that he was here by
his Majesty's warrant, and that of the city authorities, to make certain
whether Junker Herdegen Schopper, who had fled from the Imperial ban,
were in hiding or no in the house of his fathers. At first it was all I
could do to save myself from falling; but I presently found heart and
courage. I assured the bailiffs that their search would be vain, albeit I
gave them free leave to do whatsoever their office might require of them,
only to bear in mind that great notables were guests in the house; and
then I drew a deep breath and meseemed I was as a child forgotten and
left in a house on fire which sees its father pressing forward to rescue
it.

Hitherto no man had told me what fate it was that threatened my brother,
and now that I knew, I hastily filled up the meaning of many a word to
which I had lent but half an ear. My cousin's frequent absence in court
array, Ann's tear-stained eyes and strange mien, and many another matter
was now full plain to me.

My newly-awakened spirit and restored power asserted their rights, and,
as in the days of old, neither could rest content till it knew for a
certainty what it might do.

While Susan and the other serving folks, with certain of the retainers
brought by our guests, were searching the house through, I hastily did on
my shoes and garments for out-door wear, and albeit it was already dusk,
I went forth. Yea, and I held my head high and my body straight as I went
along the streets, whereas for these weeks past I had crept about hanging
my head; meseemed that a change had come over my outward as well as my
inner man. And as I reached Pernhart's house, with long swift steps, more
folks would have seen me for what in truth I was: a healthy young
creature, with a long span of life before me yet and filled with strength
and spirit enough to do good service, not to myself alone, but to many
another, and chiefest of all to my dearly beloved brother.

And when I was at my walk's end and stood before the old mother,--who was
now recovered from her sickness and sitting upright and sound in her
arm-chair with her youngest grandchild in her lap,--I knew forthwith that
I had come to the right person.

The worthy old dame had not been slow to mark what ailed me; nay, if
Cousin Maud had not besought her to spare my sorrowing soul, she long
since had revealed to me what peril hung over Herdegen. She had not
failed to perceive that my weary submission to ills which mig