urmfeder; he told me of your being wounded, on that
occasion when you were surprised by a party of the League, who probably
took you for one of us outcasts; but happily gave you an opportunity to
escape."

"Yes, I had a narrow escape," answered Albert. "I almost believe they
took me for the Duke, for they were on the look out for him at that
time. I would willingly have suffered much greater loss, to be the
instrument of saving him."

"Well, that is saying a good deal; are you aware, that the cut which
was made at you might have cost you your life?"

"He who takes the field," replied Albert, "must settle all his accounts
with the world beforehand. I would certainly prefer falling before the
enemy in the field of battle, surrounded by friends and comrades, that
I might receive from their hands the last offices of regard and love.
But still, to parry the murderer's hand from the Duke, I would have
sacrificed my life, at any time, had it been necessary."

The exile regarded the young man with emotion, and pressed his hand.
"You appear to take great interest in the Duke," he said; "I should
hardly have supposed it; because they say, your heart is with the
League."

"As I know you are a partisan of the Duke," answered Albert; "I trust
you will excuse me if I speak my mind freely. Well, then, I must tell
you, I think the Duke has acted, in many respects, not becoming his
high station; for example, he ought not to have meddled in the affair
of Hutten in the manner he did, whatever might have been his reasons;
and then, the treatment of his wife was excited by violence and an
overbearing spirit; and you must admit, that it was rage and revenge,
and not a just ground for attack, which moved him to take forcible
possession of Reutlingen."

He paused, expecting to hear a remark from the knight, upon what he had
just said; but as he remained silent, Albert continued: "Upon these
reports I formed the idea of the Duke's character when I joined the
ranks of the confederates, among whom he was vilified in still stronger
terms; but, on the other hand, he had a warm advocate in the Lady of
Lichtenstein, who was better acquainted with his virtues than his
enemies, and who you may perhaps have already heard was the principal
cause of my quitting their service. I will not, therefore, say more
upon the subject further than she opened my eyes to the true state of
existing circumstances. In consequence of her information, I gave
myself