Bertha. The only wish of his heart, which he at times
thought would never be realised, and had almost given up in despair, he
now might hope would be accomplished, for he unknowingly had gained the
good will of her father. "Yes, I renounced their service," he answered,
"because their intentions outraged my feelings; I became your friend
with heart and soul. When I was seated beside the exiled man in the
cavern, and heard the disgraceful manner in which the lord of the land
and the nobles were treated, I felt the force of his language
strengthen my resolutions. In that moment all doubts and difficulties
were removed from my mind, every thing was as clear as day, my only
desire was, to draw my sword in this cause! And do you think we shall
be called into action soon? How stand the Duke's affairs? You must not
suppose I am come to you to set with my hands across."

"I can well imagine your anxiety to be in the field," said the old
knight; "forty years ago I possessed the same ardour. You are aware,
perhaps, in what state our affairs are at present; more upon the
decline, I fear, than prosperous. The enemy is in possession of the
whole tract of the low country as far up as Urach. Our fate depends
upon one solitary circumstance,----if Tuebingen holds out, victory is
ours!"

"The honour of forty knights will, I think, answer for its safety,"
replied Albert, with animation; "the castle is strong, I have never
seen a stronger; the garrison is sufficient for its defence, and forty
men of noble blood will not surrender for a trifle. They cannot--they
dare not. Have they not the children of the duke, and the treasures of
his house, under their protection?--they _must_ hold out."

"It were well if they were all like-minded with you," said the old man.
"Tuebingen holds a great stake in her hands. If the Duke can bring
succour to its relief, he will then have a starting point, whence he
will be able to reconquer his country. The place contains large
supplies of munitions of war; and most of the nobility are assembled
within its walls. So long as they remain faithful to his cause, so long
will the feeling of Wuertemberg be for the Duke, were he only to possess
the spot upon which he stands; but I fear, I fear for the result."

"How? do you think it likely the knights will surrender? Impossible!"

"You have had but little experience in the ways of the world," replied
the old man; "you are not aware of the many allurements and snar