brought her good tidings she would
forthwith have sent me word, or have come to me herself.

What then was now the matter? In what form had the misfortune come upon
us which Abenberger had read in the stars?

I lifted the knocker with a faint heart, and could scarce breathe when I
had to knock three times or ever the door was opened.

How swiftly my Ann was wont to fly to me when she heard my tap! Was she
then afraid to meet me with the message of woe which my lord Cardinal
had perchance received from Cairo through his chaplains there? We had
the ransom ready to be sure; yet Ursula would be almost forced, after
her treacherous deed, to pursue Herdegen to his death; what could she
look for if he ever came home again? Come what might then, and were
it the worst, I must set out, and that forthwith, even if I found no
fellowship but Cousin Maud and Eppelein. And to this purpose I had come,
when at last the door was opened.

Below stairs nought was stirring. I hastily flung my wet mantle to
Mario, the deaf-mute, who had let me in, and ran up stairs. Hardly had
I reached the second floor when Ann met me, well and of good cheer;
and when I began, in the outer chamber, to beseech her to be no less
steadfast than I was in departing for the East, she nodded consent, and
pointed the way into the inner chamber, where we might be more at our
ease. I was amazed to see her in such good heart, and all the more so
when she told me that my lord Cardinal had come home that morning.

There was above stairs, she hastily told me, a noble Italian Knight,
who had desired to see our pictures; so we went into the guest chamber,
which was all lighted up as when company was bidden. Nay, it was of such
festal aspect as well nigh dazzled me, and I discerned at once that my
portrait, which only a few days ago had been hanged on the wall by the
side of Ann's for my lord Cardinal, was now placed on two chairs and
leaning against the high backs.

All this and more I perceived in a few hasty glances, and when I
enquired where might this stranger from Italy be, I was told that he had
gone with Master Pernhart into the chamber which had been fitted for his
Eminence with the magnificent stuffs from Rome and Florence which he had
brought as a gift for his old mother. The finest of these were certain
hangings of fine tissue and of many colors, which hung over the wide
opening between the great guest chamber and that next to it. And the
Italian must like