while the beautiful baroness sunk on the floor of the chapel with a deep
sigh of pain. All crowded around her in dismay. The unfortunate Hermione
was raised from the ground and conveyed to her chamber; and so much did
her countenance and pulse alter within the short time necessary to do
this, that those who looked upon her pronounced her a dying woman. She was
no sooner in her own apartment than she requested to be left alone with
her husband. He remained an hour in the room, and when he came out he
locked and double locked the door behind him. He then betook himself to
the chapel, and remained there for an hour or more, prostrated before the
altar. In the meantime most of the guests had dispersed in dismay; though
some abode out of courtesy or curiosity. There was a general sense of
impropriety in suffering the door of the sick lady's apartment to remain
locked; but, alarmed at the whole circumstances of her illness, it was
some time ere any one dared disturb the devotions of the baron. At length
medical aid arrived, and the Countess of Waldstetten took upon her to
demand the key. She spoke more than once to a man who seemed incapable of
hearing, at least of understanding, what she said. At length he gave her
the key, and added sternly, as he did so, that all aid was unavailing, and
that it was his pleasure that all strangers should leave the castle. There
were few who were inclined to stay; when upon opening the door of the
chamber in which the baroness had been deposited little more than two
hours before, no traces of her could be discovered, unless that there was
about a handful of light grey ashes, like such as might have been produced
by burning fine paper, found on the bed where she had been laid. A solemn
funeral was nevertheless performed, with masses and all other spiritual
rites, for the soul of the high and noble Lady Hermione of Arnheim; and it
was exactly on that same day three years that the baron himself was laid
in the grave of the same chapel of Arnheim, with sword, shield, and
helmet, as the last male of his family."