"Most surely, then, I know him. Did he not come to Courtland with my Lord Dessauer, the Ambassador of Plassenburg?"
The lady of Isle Rugen nodded indifferently.
"Yes," she said; "I believe he went to Courtland with the embassy from Plassenburg."
"Indeed, I was much drawn to him," said the Prince eagerly; "I remember him most vividly. He was of an olive complexion, his features without colour, but graven even as the Greeks cut those of a young god on a gem."
"Yes," said Theresa von Lynar serenely, "he has his father's face and carriage, which are those also of the Duchess Joan."
"And why," said the young man, "if I may ask without offence, is your son not the heir to the Dukedom?"
There was a downcast sadness in the woman's voice and eye as she replied, "Because when I wedded Duke Henry it was agreed between us that aught which might be thereafter should never stand between his daughter and her heritage; and, in spite of deadly wrong done to those of my house, I have kept my word."
The Prince-Cardinal thought long with knitted brow.
"The Duchess is my brother Louis's wife," he said slowly.
"In name!" retorted Theresa, quickly and breathlessly, like one called on unexpectedly to defend an absent friend.