To Roland’s aristocratic mind, every man who lacked noble blood in his veins stood on the same level, and it astonished him that any mere plebeian should claim precedence over another.  He himself felt immeasurably superior to those present, sensible of a fathomless gulf between him and them, which he, in his condescension, might cross as suited his whim, but over which none might follow him back again; and this, he was well aware, they would be the first to admit did they but know his actual rank.

For a moment he was tempted to acknowledge his identity, and crush them by throwing the crown at their heads, but some hitherto undiscovered stubbornness in his nature asserted itself, arousing a determination to stand or fall by whatever strength of character he might possess.

“I withdraw that remark,” he said, as soon as he could obtain a hearing.  “I not only withdraw it, but I apologize to you for my folly in making it.  It was merely thoughtlessness on my part, and, resting on your generosity, I should like you to consider the words unsaid.”

Once more eighteen of the twenty swung round to his side.  Roland now turned his attention to Conrad Kurzbold, ignoring John Gensbein, who had sat down flushed after his declamation, bewildered by the mutability of the many as Coriolanus had been before him.

“Herr Kurzbold,” began Roland sternly, “have you any further criticism to offer?”

“No; but I stand by what I have already said.”

“Well, I thank you for your honest expression of that determination, and I announce that you cannot accompany this expedition.”

Again Roland instantaneously lost the confidence of his auditors, and they were not slow in making him of the fact.

“This is simply tyranny,” said Ebearhard.  “If a man may not open his mouth without running danger of expulsion, then all comradeship is at an end, and I take it that good comradeship is the pivot on which this organization turns.  I do not remember that we ever placed it in the power of our president merely by his own word to cast out one of us from the fellowship.  I may add, Roland, that you seem to harbor strange ideas concerning rank and power.  I have been a member of this guild much longer than you, and perhaps understand better its purpose.  Our leader is not elected to govern a band of serfs.  Indeed, and I say it subject to correction from my friends, the very opposite is the case.  Our leader is our servant, and must conduct himself as we order.  It is not for him to lay down the law to us, but whatever laws exist for our governance, and I thank Heaven there are few of them, must be settled in conclave by a majority of the league.”

“Right!  Right!” was the unanimous cry, and when Ebearhard sat down all were seated except Roland, who stood at the end of the table with pale face and compressed lips.

“We are,” he said, “about to set out against the Barons of the Rhine, entrenched in their strong castles.  Hitherto these men have been completely successful, defying alike the Government and the people.  It was my hope that we might reverse this condition of things.  Now, Brother Ebearhard, name me a single Baron along the whole length of the Rhine who would permit one of his men-at-arms to bandy words with him on any subject whatever.”