Margarita made peace.  ’I thank you all, good friends.  But quarrel not, I pray you, with them that save me at the risk of their lives.’

‘Our service is equal,’ said the Goshawk, flourishing, ’Only we happen to be beforehand with the Club, for which Farina and myself heartily beg pardon of the entire brotherhood.’

‘Farina!’ exclaimed Dietrich.  ’Then we make a prisoner instead of uncaging a captive.’

’What ‘s this?’ said Guy.

‘So much,’ responded Dietrich.  ’Yonder’s a runaway from two masters:  the law of Cologne, and the conqueror of Satan; and all good citizens are empowered to bring him back, dead or alive.’

‘Dietrich!  Dietrich! dare you talk thus of the man who saved me?’ cried Margarita.

Dietrich sullenly persisted.

‘Then, look!’ said the White Rose, reddening under the pale dawn; ’he shall not, he shall not go with you.’

One of the Club was here on the point of speaking to the White Rose,—­a breach of the captain’s privilege.  Dietrich felled him unresisting to earth, and resumed: 

’It must be done, Beauty of Cologne! the monk, Father Gregory, is now enduring shame and scorn for lack of this truant witness.’

‘Enough!  I go!’ said Farina.

‘You leave me?’ Margarita looked tender reproach.  Weariness and fierce excitement had given a liquid flame to her eyes and an endearing darkness round their circles that matched strangely with her plump youth.  Her features had a soft white flush.  She was less radiant, but never looked so bewitching.  An aspect of sweet human languor caught at the heart of love, and raised tumults.

‘It is a duty,’ said Farina.

‘Then go,’ she beckoned, and held her hand for him to kiss.  He raised it to his lips.  This was seen of all the Club.

As they were departing with Farina, and Guy prepared to demand admittance into the convent, Dietrich chanced to ask how fared Dame Lisbeth.  Schwartz Thier was by, and answered, with a laugh, that he had quite forgotten the little lady.

’We took her in mistake for you, mistress!  She was a one to scream!  The moment she was kissed—­mum as a cloister.  We kissed her, all of us, for the fun of it.  No harm—­no harm!  We should have dropped her when we found we had the old bird ’stead of the young one, but reckoned ransom, ye see.  She’s at the Eck, rattling, I’s wager, like last year’s nut in the shell!’

‘Lisbeth!  Lisbeth! poor Lisbeth; we will return to her.  Instantly,’ cried Margarita.

‘Not you,’ said Guy.

‘Yes!  I!’

‘No!’ said Guy.

‘Gallant Goshawk! best of birds, let me go!’

’Without me or Farina, never!  I see I shall have no chance with my lord now.  Come, then, come, fair Irresistible! come, lads.  Farina can journey back alone.  You shall have the renown of rescuing Dame Lisbeth.’

‘Farina! forget not to comfort my father,’ said Margarita.