Gottfried went out, and Matthew came to sit with the chevalier, whom he was to take care of during the night, and to whom he had orders to say a few words about Arnold and his arrival.

The night rolled away, and Theobald could not sleep.  He was suffering, and sometimes groaned, and the name of Hildegarde was continually on his lips.

Matthew did not cease to pray to God in his heart, that he would visit this soul in mercy; and as the chevalier exclaimed, “O, how my heart aches!” Matthew approached him, and said, “My lord is suffering.  What can I do for him?”

“Ah, Matthew!” replied Theobald, “it is my heart that suffers.  It seems to me that it will break.”

“If my lord,” said Matthew, gently, “could weep, it would surely relieve him.”

“Weep!” exclaimed Theobald, looking at Matthew; “weep, do you say?  I do not know what it is.  I have never wept.  Shall the Iron-Hearted become a woman?”

“‘Jesus wept!’ is written in the Gospel,” replied Matthew.  “And our good Saviour is our pattern in all things.”

“You weep, then, here?” said the chevalier, with visible interest; “for here you do in all things like Jesus?”

Matthew, (humbly.) At least, we desire to.  Our pious lord—­

Theobald.  Gottfried is then a nobleman?

Matthew.  My master is the Count of Winkelthal.

Theobald, (with agitation.) The Count of Winkelthal, Matthew?  Arnold, the Lion, was then his son?  Am I then, indeed, in the house of his father?

Matthew.  Arnold is the only son of my master; and he is not dead!

“Not dead!” exclaimed Theobald, extending his hands to the domestic.  “Tell me, Matthew, are you sure of this?”

Matthew.  Arnold is living.  God has preserved him, and he is here; he is near you—­yes, in the room adjoining!

“Now I can weep!” said Theobald, putting his hands over his face, and sobbing aloud.

Matthew approached him with emotion, and Theobald, passing his arm around the neck of the servant, leaned his head upon his bosom, weeping abundantly, and saying,

“Have pity on me, Matthew.  My soul is overwhelmed!”

“O, my lord!” said the Christian to him, “it is God himself who has visited you and who calls you.  Fear not; and let your tears flow before him.”

“Matthew! dear Matthew!” said Theobald, clasping his hands; “pray to God for me!”

Matthew knelt beside the bed of the chevalier, and poured out his soul in prayer.  Theobald was still weeping when the servant rose; and it was only by degrees that he became composed, and at last fell asleep.

CHAPTER VII.

ARNOLD INFORMED OF WHAT HAS TAKEN PLACE—­HIS JOYFUL SURPRISE—­ABSENCE OF GOTTFRIED.

So passed the night in the chamber of Theobald.  Arnold had slept quietly.  Ethbert did not at first speak of Theobald; and it was not until morning, after his master had awakened and had with Ethbert lifted his soul to God in prayer, that the servant pronounced the name of Rothenwald, lamenting the ruin of that beautiful and splendid dwelling.