prisoner. In the mean while, let him be conducted to my
tent."

Albert cast a look of heartfelt gratitude at his kind noble friend, for
having a second time saved him from a threatened danger. Truchses
muttered an order to the guards to follow the orders of Fronsberg, who
led their prisoner through the narrow paths of the camp to the tent of
the commander of the infantry.

Shortly after he had arrived at his destination, the man to whom he was
so highly indebted stood before him, but Albert could not find words to
express his sense of gratitude and respect. Fronsberg smiled at his
embarrassment, and embraced him. "No thanks, no excuses," said he. "Did
I not already anticipate all this when we took leave of each other in
Ulm? But you would not believe me, and were determined to bury yourself
among the ruins of the castle of your ancestors. I do not blame you;
for believe me the campaigns and storms of many wars have not yet
hardened my heart so much as to make me forget the power of love."

"My friend, my father!" exclaimed Albert, blushing with joy.

"Yes, I am truly your father,--the friend of your father. I have often
thought of you with pride, even when you stood opposed to me in the
enemy's ranks. Your name, young as you are, will always be mentioned
with respect; for fidelity and courage in an enemy are always highly
esteemed by a man of honour. Most of us rejoice that the Duke has
escaped, for what could we have done with him? Truchses might perhaps
have committed a rash step, which we all might have had cause to
repent."

"And what is my fate to be?" asked Albert. "Am I to remain long in
prison? Where is the knight of Lichtenstein? Oh, my poor wife! may I
not see her?"

Fronsberg smiled mysteriously. "That will be difficult to manage," said
he. "You will be sent to a fortress under safe escort, and given over
to a guard, who will have orders to watch you strictly, and from whose
charge you will not escape so easily. But, be of good cheer; the knight
of Lichtenstein will accompany you, and both of you must swear to a
year's neutrality and imprisonment."

Fronsberg was now interrupted by three men, who stormed his tent;--it
was Breitenstein and Dieterich von Kraft, leading the knight of
Lichtenstein between them.

"Do I see you again, my brave lad?" cried Breitenstein, as he took
Albert's hand. "You have played me a pretty trick; your old uncle made
me promise, upon my soul, to make something out of you,