“Have no fear,” replied Wolf.  “She will keep her promise, for she is truthfulness itself.  But you would oblige me, Herr Baron, if in future you use a tone less light in speaking of this young lady, who is worthy of every honour.  Her reputation is as faultless as the purity of her voice, and, obstinate as she may be——­”

“So this masterpiece of the Creator finds much favour in your eves and your keen ears, Sir Knight,” Malfalconnet gaily interrupted.  “From any one else, my young friend, I should not suffer such a warning to pass; but we are now riding in the Emperor’s precincts, so it would cause me sore embarrassment if my steel pierced you, for my neck, which is very precious to me, would then probably fall under the rude axe of the executioner.  Besides, I wish you well, as you know, and I understand you German pedants.  Henceforward—­I swear it by all the saints!—­I will utter no disrespectful word of your lovely countrywoman until you yourself release my tongue.”

“That will never be done!” Wolf eagerly protested, “and the mere supposition would force me to bare my sword, if it were not you——­”

“If it were not sheer madness for your thumb-long parade dagger to cross blades with my good sword,” laughed Malfalconnet.  “Ere you drew your rapier, I think your lust for murder would have fled.  So let us leave our blades in their sheaths and permit my curiosity, to ask just one more question:  What consideration induces you, Sir Knight, to constrain yourself to discreet peaceableness toward me, who, Heaven knows, excited your ire with no evil intent?”

“The same which restrains you from the duel with me,” replied Wolf quietly; and then, in a warmer tone, continued:  “You are dear to me because you have shown me kindness ever since I came to the court.  But you are the last person who would admit that gratitude should fetter the hand which desires to defend itself.  In comparison with you, Baron, I am but an insignificant man, but noble blood flows in my veins as well as in yours, and I, too, am no coward.  Perhaps you suspect it because I have accepted many things from you which I would overlook from no one else.  But I know that, however your jesting tongue sins against me, it has nothing to do with your disposition, whose kindness has ever been proved when the occasion offered.  But you are now denying respect to a lady—­”

“From that, too, my heart is as far removed as the starry sky above our heads from the wretched pavement of this square,” Malfalconnet interrupted.

“Yes, Sir Knight, you judged me aright, and God save me from thinking or speaking evil of a lady who is so dear to the heart of a friend!”

As he spoke he held out his right hand to his companion with gay yet stately cordiality.

Wolf eagerly clasped it, and directly after both swung themselves from their horses in the courtyard of the Golden Cross, Malfalconnet to inform the Emperor of the successful result of his ride, the Ratisbon knight to arrange for the proper stationing of the boy choir, and then, obedient to Barbarbara’s injunction, to go to the Grieb.