Never saw I the Kaisar so enraged; he
swore that all the common sense in the empire was in the burgher
blood, and that he would make me a knight of the noblest order in
Europe to show how he esteemed it. And next morning he was gone! So
ashamed was he of his own army that he rode off in the night, and
sent orders to break up the siege. I could have torn my hair, for I
had just lashed up a few of our nobles to a better sense of honour,
and we would yet have redeemed our name! And after all, the Chapter
of proud Flemings would never have admitted me had not the heralds
hunted up that the Sorels were gentlemen of blood and coat armour
long ago at Liege. I am glad my father lived to see that proved,
mother. He could not honour thee more than he did, but he would have
been sorely grieved had I been rejected. He often thought me a
mechanical burgher, as it was."
"Not quite so, my son. He never failed to be proud of thy deeds,
even when he did not understand them; but this, and the grandson's
birth, were the crowning joys of his life.
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