Margarita leaned to her father a moment as if mortal sickness had seized her.  Then cramping her hands and feet, she said in his ear, ’Leave me to my own care; go, get the men to protect thee’; and ordered Schwartz Thier to open the door wide.

Seeing Gottlieb would not leave her, she joined her hands, and begged him.  ’The good God will protect me!  I will overmatch these men.  Look, my father! they dare not strike me in the street:  you they would fell without pity.  Go! what they dare in a house, they dare not in the street.’

Schwartz Thier had opened the door.  At sight of Margarita, the troop gave a shout.

’Now! on the doorstep, full in view, my beauteous one! that they may see what a lucky devil I am—­and have no doubts about the handing over.’

Margarita looked behind.  Gottlieb was still there, every member of him quaking like a bog under a heavy heel.  She ran to him.  ’My father!  I have a device wilt thou spoil it, and give me to this beast?  You can do nothing, nothing! protect yourself and save me!’

‘Cologne! broad day!’ muttered Gottlieb, as if the enormity had prostrated his belief in facts; and moved slowly back.

Margarita strode to the door-step.  Schwartz Thier was awaiting her, his arm circled out, and his leering face ducked to a level with his victim’s.  This rough show of gallantry proved costly to him.  As he was gently closing his iron hold about her, enjoying before hand with grim mouthridges the flatteries of triumph, Margarita shot past him through the door, and was already twenty paces beyond the troop before either of them thought of pursuing her.  At the first sound of a hoof, Henker Rothhals seized the rider’s bridle-rein, and roared:  ’Fair play for a fair bet! leave all to the Thier!’ The Thier, when he had recovered from his amazement, sought for old Gottlieb to give him a back-hit, as Margarita foresaw that he would.  Not finding him at hand, out lumbered the fellow as swiftly as his harness would allow, and caught a glimpse of Margarita rapidly fleeting up the cathedral square.

‘Only five minutes, Schwartz Thier!’ some of the troop sung out.

‘The devil can do his business in one,’ was the retort, and Schwartz Thier swung himself on his broad-backed charger, and gored the fine beast till she rattled out a blast of sparkles from the flint.

In a minute he drew up in front of Margarita.

’So! you prefer settling this business in the square.

Good! my choice sweetheart!’ and he sprang to her side.

The act of flight had touched the young girl’s heart with the spirit of flight.  She crouched like a winded hare under the nose of the hound, and covered her face with her two hands.  Margarita was no wisp in weight, but Schwartz Thier had her aloft in his arm as easily as if he had tossed up a kerchief.

‘Look all, and witness!’ he shouted, lifting the other arm.