"Follow me," she said; and opening the postern door and pointing out to her an outer flight of stone steps leading down to a garden, continued, "mount those steps leading to the stone balcony. You will find the lady you seek in her boudoir, which you enter from that open door. She is alone. I will wait for you here, for I dare not leave the gate open. It might be discovered, for I have seen people prowling about here lately a good deal."
Alice did as directed. Arrived on the balcony she paused and gazed at the graceful but passive figure half reclining in a fauteuil in full view of the mountains.
Eva is now in her twenty-first year, and lovelier than ever. Her face and hands are so white as to seem almost transparent; her curls fall in rich masses over her white silken robe; her blue eyes have a strange far-away look in them that strikes Alice to the heart.
Suddenly Eva becomes aware of the presence of a stranger, starts out of her pensive reverie and exclaims, "Who are you? How did you get in the garden?"
"I met a servant at the postern gate in the wall," replied Alice in a constrained voice. "I told her I had a special message for you."
"From Henry? Then you know all! Quick! quick! What is it?"
Alice hesitated, for she was so moved at sight of her playmate and foster-sister, she could not command her voice to speak.
"Why are you so long? Speak. I will reward you richly if you bring me good news from Duke Henry."
"I do not bring you a message from Henry of Brunswick, but from God," said Alice, slowly and solemnly. "Leave this castle, forget Henry, return to the path of duty and virtue, and seek forgiveness."
"Who are you?" cried the terrified Eva, springing from her seat. "If the Duke did not send you, who did? Oh! I am betrayed! Magda! Magda! What have you done?"