“In vain he insinuated doubts of Charles’s fidelity; she refused to hear them.
“In vain he poured, with the softest accents, into the witchery of flattery and song; she turned heedlessly away, and was pained at the remembrance of how coldly Charles had treated her before departing for the wars.
“She shut herself up in her chamber, and pined in solitude for her absent lover.
“The old minstrel, who was none other than Redgill in disguise, now resolved to attempt darker arts to obtain power over her.
“But from some cause he suddenly left the castle on some secret mission, of so high import, that it could not be resisted by a passion stronger in his breast than love—the passion of ambition and hate.
“Meanwhile, though, ever and anon, the fame of Edward reached their ears, it came unaccompanied with that of Charles.
“Of him they heard no tidings.
“And thus the love of the tender orphan was kept alive by the perpetual restlessness of fear.
“At length the old lord died, and Leoline was left entirely alone.
“One evening, as she sat with her maidens, the ringing of a horse’s hoofs were heard in the outer court of the castle.