Our grand-uncle and guardian, the old knight Im Hoff, had ever, so long as I could remember, demeaned himself as a penitent, spending his nights, and not sleeping much, in a coffin, and giving the lion’s share of his great revenues to pious works to open unto himself the gates of Heaven; but what a change was wrought in him by the Emperor’s coming!  This straight-backed and stiff necked man, who had never bowed his head save only in church and before the holy images of the saints, learnt now to stoop and bend.  His bloodless face, which had long ceased to smile, was now the very home of smiles.  His great house was filled, for there lodged Duke Ernst of Austria, the Hungarian Count of Gara—­who through his wife was near of kin to the Emperor, and his Majesty’s trusty secretary, Kaspar Slick, and all their people.  And so soon as either of these came, a gleam as of starlight lighted up his old features, or, if it fell that the sovereign granted to him to attend him, it was broad sunshine that illumined it.  And whereas the other gentlemen of the council, hereditary and elected, albeit they were ever ready to shake hands with a common workman, would stand face to face with their Majesties or the dukes and notables, upright and duly mindful of their own worth, my guardian would cast off his gravity and dignity both together; and verily we all knew full well to what end.  He, who had been defrauded of his life’s happiness by a Baron’s daughter, yearned to move the King to raise him to the rank of Baron.  He loaded the Secretary Slick with gifts and favors, and seeing that his Majesty was graciously pleased to smile on me, his ward, he would be at much pains to flatter me, calling me his “golden hair” or “Blue-eyes;” and enjoin it on me that I should make mention of him to the King as his Majesty’s most faithful servant, ever ready for any sacrifice in his service, at the same time he asked with a grin how it would pleasure me to hear Herdegen called by the name and title of Baron von Schopper-Im Hoff?

Our own honest and honorable name I weened was good enough for us three; yet, for my brother’s sake and for Ann’s, I held my peace, and took occasion while he was in so friendly a mood to urge him to release Herdegen, and grant him to choose another than Ursula.  But how wroth he waxed, how hastily he put on the icy, forbidding bearing he was wont to wear, as he rated me for a wilful simpleton who would undo her brother’s weal!

It was now St. Susannah’s day—­[August 11th]—­We were bidden to the tourney.  Duke Ernest of Austria had challenged Duke Kanthner of Oels in Silesia to meet him in the lists and, besides the glory to be gained, there was a prize of sixty and four gold pieces.  Other knights also were to joust in the ring.