Those who meet him here mean me no ill. Open the
gates and receive them honourably! Mother, mother, trust me, all is
well. I know what I am saying."
The men looked one upon another. Christina wrung her hands,
uncertain whether her son were not under some strange fatal
deception.
"My lord has his fancies," growled Koppel. "I'll not be balked of my
right of vengeance for his scruples! Will he swear that this fellow
is what he calls himself?"
"I swear," said Ebbo, slowly, "that he is a true loyal knight, well
known to me."
"Swear it distinctly, Sir Baron," said Heinz. "We have all too deep
a debt of vengeance to let off any one who comes here lurking in the
interest of our foe. Swear that this is Theurdank, or we send his
head to greet his friends."
Drops stood on Ebbo's brow, and his breath laboured as he felt his
senses reeling, and his powers of defence for his guest failing him.
Even should the stranger confess his name, the people of the castle
might not believe him; and here he stood like one indifferent,
evidently measuring how far his young host would go in his cause.
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