They were presently aroused by the entrance of a woman bearing an infant enveloped in a white and flowing mantle, with which she approached the baptismal font, where a priest awaited her.
A lady, evidently of high rank, was already there; she was richly dressed in a robe of black velvet, bordered with ermine, whilst her fine hair, over which a long veil was thrown, was braided with jewels. Two attendants stood behind. The lady was apparently going to stand sponsor for the infant about to be baptised. Gaspard and Katherine watched the ceremony at a respectful distance, but the three boys drew nearer, partly to gaze at the lady, whose appearance and beauty were well calculated to attract their attention, and partly to look at a ceremony they had never before witnessed.
When the priest was ready to receive the infant, the nurse withdrew the mantle in which it had been carefully wrapped to protect it from the severe cold. Had Gaspard and Katherine been nearer, neither the sacred edifice in which they stood, nor the holy service which was going on, would scarce have prevented an exclamation at the sight of the little cap with the silver star which the infant wore!
None, however, seemed to notice it, unless it was that that caused the deadly paleness of the lady, as she raised her eyes to answer for the child.
On the conclusion of the ceremony, the nurse presented the infant to the Countess. It was the Countess de Sternfelden herself who had stood for it, to receive her blessing.
To the astonishment of all present, she exclaimed, in a voice trembling with emotion, "For the love of heaven, tell me where this cap came from?"
All were silent; apparently no one could answer the question.
The priest alone ventured to address the Countess, asking the cause of her agitation.
"Father," she said, as she laid her hand on the cap the infant wore, "this cap belonged to the child we lost; with my own hands I embroidered the silver star, the badge of our house. O God!" she cried, sinking on her knees, "may it lead to the discovery of our lost darling."
The priest gently raised the Countess, looking around as he did so for some one who could give any information respecting the mysterious cap.