Come, tell me all. I promised the Markgraf
of Wurtemburg to look into the matter when I came to be guest at St.
Ruprecht's cloister, and I have some small interest too with King
Max."
His kindliness and sympathy were more effectual with Ebbo than the
desire to represent his case favourably, for he was still too
wretched to care for policy; but he answered Theurdank's questions
readily, and explained how the idea of the bridge had originated in
the vigil beside the broken waggons.
"I hope," said Theurdank, "the merchants made up thy share? These
overthrown goods are a seignorial right of one or other of you lords
of the bank."
"True, Herr Ritter; but we deemed it unknightly to snatch at what
travellers lost by misfortune."
"Freiherr Eberhard, take my word for it, while thou thus holdest, all
the arquebuses yet to be cut out of the Black Forest will not mar thy
chivalry. Where didst get these ways of thinking?"
"My brother was a very St. Sebastian! My mother--"
"Ah! her sweet wise face would have shown it, even had not poor
Kasimir of Adlerstein raved of her.
Pages:
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428
429
430
431
432
433
434
435