his nights,
and not sleeping much, in a coffin, and giving the lion's share of his
great revenues to pious works to open unto himself the gates of Heaven;
but what a change was wrought in him by the Emperor's coming! This
straight-backed and stiff necked man, who had never bowed his head save
only in church and before the holy images of the saints, learnt now to
stoop and bend. His bloodless face, which had long ceased to smile, was
now the very home of smiles. His great house was filled, for there lodged
Duke Ernst of Austria, the Hungarian Count of Gara--who through his wife
was near of kin to the Emperor, and his Majesty's trusty secretary,
Kaspar Slick, and all their people. And so soon as either of these came,
a gleam as of starlight lighted up his old features, or, if it fell that
the sovereign granted to him to attend him, it was broad sunshine that
illumined it. And whereas the other gentlemen of the council, hereditary
and elected, albeit they were ever ready to shake hands with a common
workman, would stand face to face with their Majesties or the dukes and
notables, upright and duly mindful of their own worth, my guardian would
cast off his gravity and dignity both together; and verily we all knew
full well to what end. He, who had been defrauded of his life's happiness
by a Baron's daughter, yearned to move the King to raise him to the rank
of Baron. He loaded the Secretary Slick with gifts and favors, and seeing
that his Majesty was graciously pleased to smile on me, his ward, he
would be at much pains to flatter me, calling me his "golden hair" or
"Blue-eyes;" and enjoin it on me that I should make mention of him to the
King as his Majesty's most faithful servant, ever ready for any sacrifice
in his service, at the same time he asked with a grin how it would
pleasure me to hear Herdegen called by the name and title of Baron von
Schopper-Im Hoff?

Our own honest and honorable name I weened was good enough for us three;
yet, for my brother's sake and for Ann's, I held my peace, and took
occasion while he was in so friendly a mood to urge him to release
Herdegen, and grant him to choose another than Ursula. But how wroth he
waxed, how hastily he put on the icy, forbidding bearing he was wont to
wear, as he rated me for a wilful simpleton who would undo her brother's
weal!

It was now St. Susannah's day--[August 11th]--We were bidden to the
tourney. Duke Ernest of Austria had challenged Duke Kanthner of Oels