He may have encountered difficulties similar to those which you yourself have met with.  The country is everywhere disturbed, and it is not only in my forests that bands of outlawed men are to be met with.  At present there is peace in Europe.  It may last indeed but a short time.  But so long as it continues, so long must the mountains and woods be full of desperate men.  Were war declared between any two princes these would flock to the banners of him who would pay them highest, and a war which could end in the entire destruction of the armies of both combatants would be a blessing to Europe.”

After entertaining Cuthbert courteously for three days, the Duke of Lorraine bade him adieu, and gave him an escort of men-at-arms to the borders of the Rhine, where he would find the way open to the domains of the Duke of Saxony.  Without adventure Cuthbert and his followers arrived at Dresden, and he immediately presented himself at the castle of the duke.  The instant that he sent in his name as Sir Cuthbert of Evesham, a knight of King Richard, he was conducted to the presence of the duke and of his wife, the sister of King Richard.

“Are you bearer of news of my brother Richard?” the duke said, advancing a step to meet the young knight as he entered the hall.

“Alas! my lord duke, I am not,” Cuthbert said; “but had hoped to gain tidings from you.”

“From me?” the duke said in surprise.  “What should lead you to believe that I have any news of King Richard later than that which others have received?  The last I heard of him was upon the day of his departure from the Holy Land, before the storm arose which scattered his fleet, and I am ignorant whether he has foundered at sea, or whether, as some suppose, his vessel may have been taken captive by the Moors.”

“I bear you later tidings,” Cuthbert said, “than those you have received.  I was on board the ship with King Richard.  We were wrecked upon the Island of Corfu and there hiring a small ship, we proceeded to Zara.  King Richard determined to make his way across the Tyrol to this place; but he thought that it would attract attention to him were he accompanied by so large a party.  Therefore he, with Sir Baldwin of Bethune, and a few followers, started north, while I with my men kept west through the north of Italy, and then crossed by the pass over Trent.”

“How long is it since you left my brother?” the duchess asked anxiously.

“It is now over a month since I bade him adieu,” Cuthbert answered.

“Then he should have been heard of long since,” the duchess said.  “What fate can have befallen him?”