He drew from under his belt Herr Goebel’s parchment, and handed it to her.

“In case it should occur to the good Archbishop, or any other noble, to hang me, I thought it best to get such a declaration signed by the Emperor, and decorated with the Great Seal of the Empire.  Then, if any attempt is made on my life, as well as on my liberty, I may produce this Imperial decree, and bring my case to Frankfort.”

“Surely, surely,” exclaimed the agitated lady, her hands trembling as she held the document and tried to read it; “I can obtain your father’s signature, but the Great Seal must be attached by the Chamberlain.”

“Very good, mother.  The Chamberlain will do as his Majesty orders.  The seal is even more important than the signature, if it comes to that, and I am sure the Chamberlain will make no objection when the instrument is for the protection of your son’s life.  It is not necessary to say that I am here, or have anything to do with the matter.  But lose not a moment, and give orders that no one shall enter this room.”

The empress hastened away with the parchment, while the young man walked impatiently up and down the room.  It seemed hours before she returned, but at last she came back with the document duly executed.  Roland thrust it under his belt again, and reassuring his mother, who was now weeping on his shoulder, he tried to tear himself away.  The Empress detained him until, with fumbling hands, she unlocked a drawer in a cabinet, and took from it a bag that gave forth a chink of metal as she pressed it on her son.

“I must not take it,” he said.  “I am quite well provided.  The generous Archbishops allow me seven hundred thalers a month, which is paid with exemplary regularity.”

“There are only five hundred thalers here,” replied the Empress.  “I wish there were more, but you must accept it, for I should feel easier in my mind to know that you possess even that much.  Do they misuse you at Ehrenfels, my son?”

“Oh, no, no, no!  I live like a burgomaster.  You need feel no fear on my account, mother.  Ehrenfels is a delightful spot, with old Bingen just across the water.  I like it much better than I did Frankfort, with its howling mobs, and shall be very glad to get quit again of the city.”

Then, with a hurried farewell, he left the weeping woman, and descending the back stair, secured the abandoned gabardine, put it on, and so came to the water’s edge, entering into possession of his boat again.  Returning the craft to its owner, he resumed sword and cloak once more, and found his way to a tavern, where he ordered a satisfactory meal.

In the evening he arrived at the Rheingold, and meeting the landlord in the large, empty, public cellar, asked that worthy if his friends had assembled yet, and was told they were all within the Kaiser cellar.

“Good!” he cried.  “I said I would be gone a week, but here I am within a day.  If that’s not justifying a man’s word, I should like to know what is.  And now, landlord, set forth the best meal you can provide, with a double quantity of wine.”