"
"Gives he no name?" said Ebbo.
"He calls himself Ritter Theurdank, of the suite of the late Kaisar,
but I should deem him wont rather to lead than to follow."
"Theurdank," repeated Eberhard, "I know no such name! So,
motherling, are you going to sup? I shall not sleep till I have seen
him!"
"Hold, dear son." She leant over him and spoke low. "See him thou
must, but let me first station Heinz and Koppel at the door with
halberts, not within earshot, but thou art so entirely defenceless."
She had the pleasure of seeing him laugh. "Less defenceless than
when the kinsman of Wildschloss here visited us, mother? I see for
whom thou takest him, but let it be so; a spiritual knight would
scarce wreak his vengeance on a wounded man in his bed. I will not
have him insulted with precautions. If he has freely risked himself
in my hands, I will as freely risk myself in his. Moreover, I
thought he had won thy heart."
"Reigned over it, rather," said Christina. "It is but the disguise
that I suspect and mistrust. Bid me not leave thee alone with him,
my son.
Pages:
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431