"Grandame," said Ebbo, striding up to the scene of action, "cease.
Remember my words yestereve."
"She has stolen the keys! She has tampered with the servants! She
has released the prisoner--thy prisoner, Ebbo! She has cheated us as
she did with Wildschloss! False burgherinn! I trow she wanted
another suitor! Bane--pest of Adlerstein!"
Friedmund threw a supporting arm round his mother, but Ebbo
confronted the old lady. "Grandmother," he said, "I freed the
captive. I stole the keys--I and Friedel! No one else knew my
purpose. He was my captive, and I released him because he was foully
taken. I have chosen my lot in life," he added; and, standing in the
middle of the hall, he took off his cap, and spoke gravely:- "I will
not be a treacherous robber-outlaw, but, so help me God, a faithful,
loyal, godly nobleman."
His mother and Friedel breathed an "Amen" with all their hearts; and
he continued,
"And thou, grandame, peace! Such reverence shalt thou have as befits
my father's mother; but henceforth mine own lady-mother is the
mistress of this castle, and whoever speaks a rude word to her
offends the Freiherr von Adlerstein.
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