I am chosen as his
envoy, and shall sail so soon as I can make my way to Venice. I only
knew of the appointment since I came hither, he having been led
thereto by letters brought him this day; and mayhap by the downfall
of my hopes. He was peremptory, as his mood is, and seemed to think
it no small favour," added Wildschloss, with some annoyance. "And
meantime, what of my poor child? There she is in the cloister at
Ulm, but an inheritance is a very mill-stone round the neck of an
orphan maid. That insolent fellow, Lassla von Trautbach, hath
already demanded to espouse the poor babe; he--a blood-stained,
dicing, drunken rover, with whom I would not trust a dog that I
loved! Yet my death would place her at the disposal of his father,
who would give her at once to him. Nay, even his aunt, the abbess,
will believe nothing against him, and hath even striven with me to
have her betrothed at once. On the barest rumour of my death will
they wed the poor little thing, and then woe to her, and woe to my
vassals!"
"The King," suggested Ebbo.
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