Besides, he had little time for reflection; scarcely had he hastily wiped off with the little cloak that lay beside him the blood which covered the face of the prostrate man than he started back in horror, for the person who had sought his life was the very one whom he had honoured with his highest confidence, and had chosen as the teacher and companion of the wife who was dearer than his own existence.
Some cruel misunderstanding, some pitiable mistake must have been at work here, and he came upon the right trail speedily enough.
The hapless knight loved Barbara, and had taken him, Luis, for her betrayer and nocturnal visitor.
Fatal error of the Emperor, whose lamentable consequences were already beginning!
With sincere repentance for his needlessly violent act of defence, he bent over the severely injured man. His heart was still beating, but doubtless on account of the great loss of blood—it throbbed with alarming weakness. Don Luis also soon found a wound in the skull, which appeared to be fractured.
If speedy aid was not rendered, the unfortunate man was lost.
Quijada laid Wolf's head quickly and carefully on his cloak, which he placed in a roll beneath it, and then hurried to the Red Cock, where one servant was just opening the door and another was leading out two horses. The latter was Jan, Wolf's Netherland servant, who wanted to water the animals before starting on the journey.
He instantly recognised the nobleman; but the latter had resolved to keep the poor musician's attack a secret.
As Jan bowed respectfully to him, he ordered him and the servant of the Red Cock to leave everything and follow him. He had found a dead man in the street.
A few minutes after the three were standing at the steps of the house, before the object of their solicitude.