Why had Faustus ordered the "Magnificat" to be sung? Could it be that—?
"Barbara!"
A delicious feeling of relief thrilled her whole frame as that word fell on her ear.
She looked up from her knees. Yes, it was the living Paul, and not his spirit; Paul smiling tenderly, and apparently unhurt. She tried to speak, but emotion checked her utterance. Paul raised her drooping figure from the ground and girdled her in a grasp of iron.
"My sweet floweret. You must not faint. All is well. Your throne is safe."
"Your life is safe," she faintly articulated, "and that is all I care for."
Then followed a long interval of silence. Their joy was too deep for words. At last Barbara spoke.
"And is Bora really dead?"
"May all enemies of the princess be as the duke is."
"And you? Are you not wounded—hurt?" she asked, holding him at arm's length.