low; besides, I am taken with a man who stands near death
without flinching. To tell you the truth, our truce is somewhat to my
liking. There are few men who would have dared what you have to-night.
And although you're only a fool--will you drink with me from this
bottle on the table here? I'm tired of ceremonies of rank and would
clink a glass in private with a merry fellow. What say you?"

And leaning over, he filled two large goblets with the rich beverage
from a great flask placed on the stand for his convenience. His face
lighted with gross conviviality, but behind his jovial, free manner,
that of a trooper in his cups, gleamed a furtive, guarded look, as
though he were studying and testing his man.

"I'm for a free life; some fighting; but snug walls around for
companionship," he continued. "Look at my soldiers now; roistering,
love-making! Charles? Francis? Not one of the troop would leave me
for emperor or king! Not one but would follow me--where ambition
leads!" Holding up the glass, he looked into the depths of the thick
burgundy. "Why, a likely fellow like you should carry a gleaming
blade, not a wooden sword. I know your duke--a man of lineage--a
string of titles long as my arm--an underling of the emperor, while
I"--closing his great jaw firmly--"owe allegiance to no man, or
monarch, which is the same thing. Drink, lad; I'm pleased I did not
kill you."

"And I," laughed the _plaisant_, "congratulate myself you are still
alive--for the wine is excellent!"

"Still alive!" exclaimed the king's guest, boisterously, although a
dark shadow crossed his glance.

"I'm scarred from head to foot, and my hide is as tough as--"

"A boar's?" tapping his chin with the fool's head on his wand.

"Ah, you will have your jest," retorted the host of the occasion,
good-naturedly. "It's bred in the bone. A quality for a soldier.
Next to courage is that fine sense of humor which makes a man a _bon
camarade_. Put down your graven image, lad; you were made to carry
arms, not baubles. Put it down, I say, and touch glasses with Louis,
of Pfalz-Urfeld."

"The bastard of Hochfels!" exclaimed the jester, fixedly regarding the
man whose name was known throughout Europe for his reckless bravery,
his personal resources and his indomitable pride or love of freedom and
independence, which held him aloof from emperor or monarch, and made
him peer and leader among the many intractable spirits of the Austrian
country