"I am Kasimir von Adlerstein Wildschloss," was the reply. "I have
hitherto been hindered by stress of weather from coming to take
possession of my inheritance. Admit me, that I may arrange with the
widowed Frau Freiherrinn as to her dower and residence."
"The widowed Frau Freiherrinn, born of Adlerstein," returned Hatto,
"thanks the Freiherr von Adlerstein Wildschloss; but she holds the
castle as guardian to the present head of the family, the Freiherr
von Adlerstein."
"It is false, old man," exclaimed the Wildschloss; "the Freiherr had
no other son."
"No," said Hatto, "but Freiherr Eberhard hath left us twin heirs, our
young lords, for whom we hold this castle."
"This trifling will not serve!" sternly spoke the knight. "Eberhard
von Adlerstein died unmarried."
"Not so," returned Hatto, "our gracious Frau Freiherrinn, the
younger, was wedded to him at the last Friedmund Wake, by the special
blessing of our good patron, who would not see our house extinct."
"I must see thy lady, old man," said Sir Kasimir, impatiently, not in
the least crediting the story, and believing his cousin Kunigunde
quite capable of any measure that could preserve to her the rule in
Schloss Adlerstein, even to erecting some passing love affair of her
son's into a marriage.
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