Then a day came when the Court physician Olearius found his way into
"The Three Kings." It was in the middle of December and straw was strewn
in the street in front of the Ueberhell house. Those who had held aloof
from the young couple in their happy hours now drew near in their
misfortune. It seemed as if the young Italian had suddenly become the
idol of the inhabitants of Leipsic, so many were the inquiries about her
condition, so numerous the friendly offers of service, the kindly gifts
of hot-house flowers and rare wines. Just as the Christmas bells rang
out along the streets of the city the joyful tidings "Christ is born"
a sharp cry rang through the rooms of The Three Holy Kings and Melchior
knelt beside his blighted flower that now was whiter even than the lily,
for the last shimmer of red had faded forever from her wan cheeks, and he
wrung his hands in utter despair.

The funeral train that followed the young Italian, who had appeared among
them like a fleeting vision of Paradise, would have done honour to the
wife of the Chief Justice.

Every one who was respectable and aristocratic in Leipsic followed her,
as well as many humbler folk on whom Bianca's glance had rested but once.
People were now so open-hearted, and seemed to wish to give to the dead
what they had withheld from the living. Hot tears were shed, for though
not one of all the mourners had ever really known Bianca, they felt that
they had lost something beautiful.

The only member of the family of Ueberhell who did not make part of the
funeral train was the chief mourner, the bereaved Doctor Melchior
himself.

Alone and tearless he paced the chamber that Bianca had occupied. He