, Francis restored all that he had
received from him, except his last garment, and with the exclamation,
'Our Father who art in heaven, not Pier Bernardone,' he made the choice
between his earthly and his heavenly Father. From the former he would
have received in abundance everything that the heart of a child of the
world desires-wealth, paternal love, and the blessing which is said to
build houses on earth. But Francis preferred poverty and contempt, nay,
even his father's curse and the reproach of ingratitude, receiving in
exchange possessions of a nobler nature and more lasting character. You
have heard their names. To obtain them, means to share the bliss of
heaven. And you"--he continued loudly, adopting for the first time a tone
of authoritative severity--"if you really yearned for the greatest
possessions, go to the fortress this very hour, and with the cry in your
heart, though not on your lips, 'Our Father who art in heaven, not my
gracious master and benefactor Rudolph,' inform the Emperor what higher
Lord you have vowed to serve."

This kindled a fierce conflict in Heinz Schorlin's soul, which perhaps
might have ended in favour of a new career and St. Francis, had not
Biberli, ere he reached a conclusion, rushed into the room shouting:
"Seitz Siebenburg, the Mustache, has joined his brothers, and the Knight
of Absbach, with several others--von Hirsdorf, von Streitberg, and
whatever their names may be--have made common cause with them! It is said
that they also expected reinforcements from the Main, in order that the
right to the road----"

"Gossip, or positive news?" interrupted Heinz, drawing himself up to his
full height with the cool composure which he attained most easily when
any serious danger threatened him.

"As positive," replied his follower eagerly, "as that Siebenburg is the
greatest rascal in Germany. You will be robbed of your joust with him,
for he'll mount the block instead of the steed, just as you predicted.
The ladies will drive him from the lists with pins and rods, to say
nothing of the scourging by which knight and squire will silence him. Oh,
my lord, if you only knew!"

"Well?" asked the knight anxiously.

Then Biberli, paying no further heed to his master's orders never to
mention the Ortlieb sisters again in his presence, burst forth
indignantly: "It might move a stone to pity to know the wrong the monster
has done Jungfrau Eva and her pure and virtuous sister, the loyal
betrot