in abundance everything that the heart of a child of the world desires-wealth, paternal love, and the blessing which is said to build houses on earth.  But Francis preferred poverty and contempt, nay, even his father’s curse and the reproach of ingratitude, receiving in exchange possessions of a nobler nature and more lasting character.  You have heard their names.  To obtain them, means to share the bliss of heaven.  And you”—­he continued loudly, adopting for the first time a tone of authoritative severity—­“if you really yearned for the greatest possessions, go to the fortress this very hour, and with the cry in your heart, though not on your lips, ’Our Father who art in heaven, not my gracious master and benefactor Rudolph,’ inform the Emperor what higher Lord you have vowed to serve.”

This kindled a fierce conflict in Heinz Schorlin’s soul, which perhaps might have ended in favour of a new career and St. Francis, had not Biberli, ere he reached a conclusion, rushed into the room shouting:  “Seitz Siebenburg, the Mustache, has joined his brothers, and the Knight of Absbach, with several others—­von Hirsdorf, von Streitberg, and whatever their names may be—­have made common cause with them!  It is said that they also expected reinforcements from the Main, in order that the right to the road——­”

“Gossip, or positive news?” interrupted Heinz, drawing himself up to his full height with the cool composure which he attained most easily when any serious danger threatened him.

“As positive,” replied his follower eagerly, “as that Siebenburg is the greatest rascal in Germany.  You will be robbed of your joust with him, for he’ll mount the block instead of the steed, just as you predicted.  The ladies will drive him from the lists with pins and rods, to say nothing of the scourging by which knight and squire will silence him.  Oh, my lord, if you only knew!”

“Well?” asked the knight anxiously.

Then Biberli, paying no further heed to his master’s orders never to mention the Ortlieb sisters again in his presence, burst forth indignantly:  “It might move a stone to pity to know the wrong the monster has done Jungfrau Eva and her pure and virtuous sister, the loyal betrothed bride of a brave man—­and the abominable names bestowed on the young ladies, whom formerly young and old, hat in hand, called the beautiful Es.”

Heinz stamped his foot on the floor and, half frantic, impetuously exclaimed, his blood boiling with honest indignation:  “May the air he breathes destroy the slandering scoundrel!  May I be flayed on the rack if——­”

Here he was interrupted by a low exclamation of warning from the Minorite, who perceived in the knight’s fierce oaths a lamentable relapse.  Heinz himself felt ashamed of the ungodly imprecations; yet he could by no means succeed in regaining his former composure as, drawing a long breath, he continued:  “And those city hypocrites, who call themselves Christians, and build costly cathedrals for the good of their souls, are not ashamed—­yes, holy Father, it is true—­basely to deny our Lord and Saviour, who is Love itself, and deemed even the Magdalen worthy of His mercy, and rub their hands in fiendish malignity when unpunished they can sully the white robe of innocence, and drag pious, lovely simplicity to the pillory.”