I had hoped to have fulfilled
Friedel's trust, and to have redeemed my own backwardness; but it is
not to be. While I was yet lying helpless on my bed, the Emperor has
taken it out of my power. Mother, you receive him from Friedel's
hands, after all."
"And well am I thankful that so it should be," said Christina. "Ah,
Ebbo! sorely should I have pined with anxiety when thou wast gone.
And thy father knows that thou hadst the full purpose."
"Yea, I know it," said the old man; "and, after all, small blame to
him even if he had not. He never saw me, and light grieves the heart
for what the eye hath not seen."
"But," added the wife, "since the Romish king freed you, dear lord,
cared he not better for your journey than to let you come in this
forlorn plight?"
This, it appeared, was far from being his deliverer's fault. Money
had been supplied, and Sir Eberhard had travelled as far as Aosta
with a party of Italian merchants; but no sooner had he parted with
them than he was completely astray. His whole experience of life had
been as a robber baron or as a slave, and he knew not how to take
care of himself as a peaceful traveller; he suffered fresh extortions
at every stage, and after a few days was plundered by his guides,
beaten, and left devoid of all means of continuing the journey to
which he could hardly hope for a cheerful end.
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