Such quests end in mortal conflict between
the unknown father and son."
"I should know him," said Friedel, enthusiastically, "or, at least,
he would know my mother's son in me; and, could I no otherwise ransom
him, I would ply the oar in his stead."
"A fine exchange for my mother and me," gloomily laughed Ebbo, "to
lose thee, my sublimated self, for a rude, savage lord, who would
straightway undo all our work, and rate and misuse our sweet mother
for being more civilized than himself."
"Shame, Ebbo!" cried Friedel, "or art thou but in jest?"
"So far in jest that thou wilt never go, puissant Sir Hildebert,"
returned Ebbo, drawing him closer. "Thou wilt learn--as I also trust
to do--in what nameless hole the serpent hid his remains. Then shall
they be duly coffined and blazoned. All the monks in the cloisters
for twenty miles round shall sing requiems, and thou and I will walk
bareheaded, with candles in our hands, by the bier, till we rest him
in the Blessed Friedmund's chapel; and there Lucas Handlein shall
carve his tomb, and thou shalt sit for the likeness.
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