Thus the hours passed, and I was in the very act of enquiry whether it were not time to light the lamps, when we heard voices on the stairs, and Cousin Maud came in saying that Sir Franz had made his way into the house, and that he declared that his weal or woe, nay and his life lay in Herdegen’s hand, so that she had not the heart to refuse to suffer him to come in.  Hereupon my brother started up in a rage, but the chamber door was opened, and with the maid, who brought the lamp in, the Bohemian crossed the threshold.  We maids would fain have quitted them; but the knight besought us to remain, saying, as his eyes humbly sued to mine, that rather should I tarry and speak a good word for him.  Then, when Herdegen called upon him to speak, but did not hold forth his hand, Sir Franz besought him to suffer him to be his comrade in his pilgrimage.  Howbeit so doleful a fellow was by no means pleasing in my brother’s eyes, and so he right plainly gave him to understand; then the Bohemian called to mind their former friendship, and entreated him to put himself in his place and not to forget that he, as a man sound of limb, would have avenged the scorn put on him by Rochow in fair fight instead of with a dagger-thrust.  They were condemned to a like penance and, if Herdegen would not suffer him and give him his company, this would be the death-blow to his blighted honor.

Hereupon I appealed to my brother right earnestly, beseeching him not to reject his former friend if it were only for love of me.  And inasmuch as on that day his whole soul was filled with love, his hardness was softened, and how gladly and thankfully my heart beat when I beheld him give his hand to the man who had endured so much woe for my sake.

Presently, while they were yet speaking of their departing, again there were voices without; and albeit I could scarce believe my ears I mistook not, and knew the tones for Ursula’s.  Ann likewise heard and knew them, and she quitted the chamber saying:  “None shall trouble me in such an hour, least of all shall Ursula!” The angelus had long since been tolled, and somehap of grave import must have brought us so rare a guest at so late an hour.  My cousin, who would fain have hindered her from coming in, held her by the arm; and her efforts to shake off the old lady’s grasp were all in vain till she caught sight of Herdegen.  Then at length she freed herself and, albeit she was gasping for breath, her voice was one of sheer triumph as she cried:  “I had to come, and here I am!”

“Aye, but if you come as a Mar-joy I will show you the way out, my word for that!” my cousin panted; but the maid heeded her not, but went straight toward Herdegen and said:  “I felt I must see you once more ere you depart—­I must!  Old Jorg attended me, and when I am gone forth again Dame Maud will speak my ‘eulogium’.  Only look at her!  But it is all one to me.  Find me a place, Herdegen, where I may speak with you and Ann Spiesz alone.  I have a message for you.”