here were some of Stadion's
party, with Hewen, and many of his friends. The light of a lamp
illumined their position, and the large goblets which were placed
before them. It was an imposing scene, and put me in mind of a sitting
of the secret tribunal. Having concealed myself behind a cask, I
listened to their conversation. George von Hewen spoke stirring words,
and represented to them the crime of their infidelity; he said there
was no reason why they should surrender; that they were well provided
with provisions for a long siege; that your Grace was assembling an
army for their relief; and that the besiegers were worse off than
themselves."

"Ha! brave Hewen! and what gave they for answer?" said the Duke.

"They only laughed and drank. 'It will be long before he can get an
army together. Where will he find money, unless he plunders?' said one
of the party. Hewen continued: 'But if the Duke cannot succeed so soon
as he expected, we are nevertheless bound by our oath to hold to the
last, or else be held as traitors to our lord and master.' They laughed
and drank again, saying, 'Who dares come forward and call us traitors?'
I then called out from behind my cask, 'I will! You are traitors--false
to your oaths, to the Duke, and your country!' They were terrified and
thunder-struck; Stadion let fall his goblet; when, stepping forward,
having first taken off my disguise, I stood before them, and drew your
letter from under my jerkin: here is a writing from your Duke, said I;
he commands you at your peril to surrender; he is coming himself to
conquer or die under the walls."

"Oh, Tuebingen!" said the Duke, with a sigh, "fool that I was to leave
you in such hands. I would give two of my left fingers for your sake!
what did I say, two fingers? I would willingly lose my right hand could
I purchase you with the sacrifice, and with my left lead the way to the
heart of my enemies. And what was the answer to my words--did they not
give any?"

"The false ones eyed me with sullen looks, and appeared not to know
what to do. Hewen, however, repeated his warning to them. Stadion at
last said, You come too late. Twenty-eight knights have determined to
withdraw from the contest, and leave the Duke to settle his affairs
alone with the League. If he returns to the country with an army they
will faithfully stand by him, but they cannot continue to carry on the
war any longer in a state of uncertainty as to the result, seeing that
their