"Don't deny it, for I know everything. You have fallen in love with Esther. It is just fortunate that the girl has more sense than you, and does not trust your fine words." "I humbly beg your pardon," said Michael, unwilling to let the opportunity slip, "I believe, on the contrary, Your Highness, that Esther--" "Esther is going to marry Aggtelky Mihály, the Supreme Count," said the king decidedly; "and now that you know this, it will be as well for you to give up thinking of her. To make it easier for you, and to impress it upon your mind, it will not be amiss for you to spend a few months away from Buda." "Your Highness," Michael began again in an imploring tone. "Enough!" said the king in a stern voice. "Now both follow me to the castle chapel. You will receive your instructions after service, and then--to Vienna!" Michael was in the utmost consternation, but he did not venture another word. It was so strange to see the gay, good-natured king thus unlike himself, that he thought he must either be ill, or must have had very bad news from somewhere, or--was it possible?--that some one had been trying to set him against himself, by telling malicious tales. His rapid advancement, and the favour which the king showed him, had, he knew, excited some envy and jealousy. Had some secret enemy then been at work? But then King Matthias was not given to listening to tales, and if he had heard anything to Michael's discredit, he would have told him of it plainly, and given him the opportunity of clearing himself. He glanced interrogatively at Galeotti; but the Italian merely shrugged his shoulders to express his entire bewilderment. They were walking behind the king now, towards the chapel, which they found dressed with lovely flowers as if for a festival; but Michael was so engrossed in his own thoughts, so sore at heart, and so hurt by what he felt to be the just king's injustice, that he had no attention to spare for anything else. They took their places; the shrill tones of a bell were heard, and the service began and proceeded quietly to its close. The king rose up, and was about to leave the chapel, when he stopped short, saying, "So--I was forgetting! Another little ceremony takes place here to-day, of course. Follow me." With that he turned towards the vestry, Michael following him with listless steps. The door was opened by some one within; but Michael's eyes were bent upon the ground, and he saw nothing but the marble floor, until Galeotti twitched him by the sleeve and made him look up. Then he saw what filled him first with amazement and next with passionate indignation. For there before him, like a beautiful dream, stood Esther--_his_ Esther as he felt her to be, in spite of kings and counts--_his_ Esther, robed in white, with a bridal wreath on her head, and looking as fair and pure as a dove!