On the morning of our second day at Basel, Franz invited us to be his guests during our sojourn in the city.  His house was large, having been built to entertain customers who came from great distances to buy his silks.

Max and I had expected to leave Basel when our wounds were entirely healed, but we changed our minds after I had talked with Franz.  The conversation that brought about this change occurred one morning while the merchant and I were sitting in his shop.  He handed me a purse filled with gold, saying:—­

“Here is twice the sum I agreed to pay.  I beg that you accept it since I shall still be in your debt.”

I knew by the weight of the gold that it was a larger sum than I had ever before possessed.  I did not like to accept it, but I could not bring myself to refuse a thing so important to Max.

“We should not accept this from you, good Franz, but—­but—­”

“The boy saved my life and my fortune,” he interrupted, “and I am really ashamed to offer you so small a sum.  You should have half of all my goods.”

I protested and thanked him heartily, not only for his gift, but also for his manner of giving.  Then I told him of our intended journey to Burgundy—­of course not mentioning the princess—­and asked if he knew of any merchant who would soon be travelling that way.

“There are many going down the river from Basel to Strasburg,” he answered, “and you may easily fall in with one any day.  But there will soon be an opportunity for you to travel all the way to Burgundy.  I know the very man for your purpose.  He is Master George Castleman of Peronne.  He comes every spring, if there is peace along the road, to buy silks.  We now have peace, though I fear it will be of short duration, and I am expecting Castleman early this season.  He will probably be here before the first of May.  He is a rich merchant, and was one of the councillors of Duke Philip the Good, father to the present Duke of Burgundy.  Years ago Duke Philip built a house for him abutting the walls of Peronne Castle.  It is called ‘The House under the Wall,’ and Castleman still lives in it.  He refused a title of nobility offered him by Duke Philip.  He is not out of favor with the present duke, but he loves peace too dearly to be of use to the hot-headed, tempestuous Charles.  Duke Charles, as you know, is really King of Burgundy—­the richest land on earth.  His domain is the envy of every king, but he will bring all his grandeur tumbling about his head if he perseveres in his present course of violence and greed.”

At that moment Max joined us.

“I hear this Duke Charles has no son to inherit his rich domain?” I observed interrogatively.

“No,” answered Franz.  “He has a daughter, the Princess Mary, who will inherit Burgundy.  She is said to be as gentle as her father is violent.  Castleman tells me that she is gracious and kind to those beneath her, and, in my opinion, that is the true stamp of greatness.”