sorrowfully laying a wet cloth, at my aunt's bidding, on his master's
head where it was so sorely cut; and methought how well it would have
been if Herdegen were still so ready to follow the prompting of his
heart.

Understanding anon that I was not needed by this bed, where Eppelein kept
faithful watch and ward, and that Sir Franz's chamber was closed to me, I
went down stairs again, for I had heard a rumor that the swarthy lad--who
had yesterday played on the pipe--was to be put to the torture. This I
would fain have hindered, whereas by many tokens I was certain that the
said comely youth was not one of the vagabond crew, but, like little
Katie, might well be a child knavishly kidnapped from some noble house.
Whereas I reached the hall, Balzer, the keeper, was about bringing the
lad in. Outside indeed it was dim and wet, but within it was no less
comfortable, for a mighty fire was blazing in the wide chimney-place. My
aunt was warming her thereat, and Ann likewise was of the company, with
Uncle Conrad, Jost Tetzel, my godfather Christian Pfinzing, and the
several guests.

I joined myself to them and in an under tone told them what I had noted,
saying that, more by token the youth must have a good conscience; for,
whereas he had not been cast into the cell but had been locked into a
stable to take charge of the camels and the ape, he had nevertheless not
tried to escape, although it would have been easy.

To this opinion some inclined; and seeing that the boy spoke but a few
words of German, but knew more of Italian, I addressed him in that
tongue; and then it came to light that he was verily and indeed a stolen
child. The vagabonds had bartered for him in Italy, giving a fair girl
whom they had with them in exchange; likewise he said he was of princely
birth, but had fallen into slavery some two years since, when a fine
galley governed by his father, an Emir or prince of Egypt, had fought
with another coming from Genoa in Italy.

When I had presently interpreted these words to the others, Jost Tetzel,
Ursula's father, declared them to be sheer lies and knavery; even Uncle
Conrad deemed them of little worth; and for this reason: that if the lad
had indeed been the son of some grand Emir of Egypt the bear-leader would
for certain have made profit of him by requiring his ransom.

But when I told the lad of this he fixed his great eyes very modestly on
me, and in truth there was no small dignity in his mien and voic