Page:Maria Felicia.pdf/197

 were all in his hands. He could have had the former mistress of Hlohov driven out of the Castle by his hounds, for she was outlawed; he, however, planned a different scheme. After the bloody crime on the market place of Prague was completed, he started for Hlohov in grand style, with the expectation that, as soon as he approached the Castle, she who had dared to scorn his love would be coming to meet him; that, barefooted, with loosely flying hair covered with ashes, dressed in a horse-hair garb, kneeling before him in the dust, with tears in her eyes, she would beg for his mercy. He intended to enjoy for a while her humiliation and then change her weeping to joy; he intended to raise the penitent from the ground, place her by his side, and make of her Countess Felsenburk, for his wild passion was not yet tamed. But as an avenger he was more fortunate than as a lover; the news of her sudden death struck him a terrible blow. The sweetest fruit of his vengeance being gone, he then raged so desperately that the loss of his mind was feared.