“Your fair Rebecca stays behind here with your boy,” continued Count Schwarzenberg; “and that she may be in perfect safety and never lack for my protection, I shall have her brought to Spandow, my usual place of residence.  There she shall live, well watched and cared for, and there remain until your return.  If, however, you have then proved yourself to be a good and obedient servant, I will myself restore to you your Rebecca, and nobody shall dare to molest you.”

“Tell me what I have to do, your excellency,” said the painter, with cold, desperate decision.  “I am ready and willing for everything, for I love my Rebecca and my son, and I will deserve them.”

“And it will not be made hard for you, master.  You go, then, to Holland, introduce yourself to the Electoral Prince through the Electress’s letter of recommendation, and try to make yourself as agreeable and charming to him as possible.  When you have succeeded in that, lament to him that life in Holland does not suit you at all, that you are homesick, and entreat most earnestly that the Electoral Prince include you in his traveling suite.  This he will naturally do, and you will accompany him on his journey home.  Have you understood me, and paid good heed to all my words, Master Nietzel?”

“Yes, your excellency, I have noted each word.”

“And you have found without doubt that it is by no means a difficult thing that I require of you.  But the journey back, Master Nietzel, the journey back is a very dangerous and bad affair.  You know, so many freebooters rove about everywhere, and Westphalia especially is swarming with Swedes and Hessians.  If such a troop of soldiers knew beforehand that the Electoral Prince was coming that way, they would certainly lie in wait for him and fall upon him, either for purposes of plunder or in order to carry him off and extort a high ransom for him.  The Electoral Prince will not passively submit to capture, but will resist; a battle will ensue, and then it might easily happen that in the heat of conflict a dagger should pierce the Prince or a ball go through his head.  Those Swedes and Hessians are wild, fierce soldiers, and the Prince is in perpetual danger, especially in Westphalia.  You must represent this to the Electoral Prince, and, to prove to him your zeal and love, you will entreat permission always to go a few hours in advance of him to make sure that the way is free and the Electoral Prince is threatened by no danger.  He will therefore each morning acquaint you with the course of his route, and where to arrange night quarters for him, and the point where you shall rejoin him again.  You are to precede the Electoral Prince as courier, and if, some day, he should be attacked at a wild spot on the road by a troop of Swedish or Hessian soldiery, robbed, taken prisoner, or even killed, that is no fault of yours, and no one could blame you on that account, for you have proved and evidenced your zeal in the most striking manner.  You have comprehended me, Master Nietzel?  Have you paid good heed to my words?”