hted in love from their childhood, I made
known to his lordship that it was not my brother's desire, but that of my
grand-uncle, that Ursula should be his wife. Likewise I strove to release
my brother from the charge of making gold, by diligently showing that the
old Knight had ever showered ducats on him to beguile him to his will.
Then I spoke at length of Herdegen's skill with the sword, and hereupon
Ann made bold to say that it would be well to bid her lover return in
safe-keeping to Nuremberg, and there let him give proof of his skill with
a weapon specially blessed by my lord Cardinal Julianus Caesarinus, the
Pope's legate, which could have no taint of devilish arts.

Thus did we give utterance to everything we had meditated beforehand; and
albeit the Elector at first made wrathful answer, and even made as though
he would turn his back on us, each time we made shift to hold him fast.
Nay, or ever we had ceased he had taken his foot from the stag's neck,
and at length we walked with him back to the forest lodge, half amused,
yet half grieved, with the mocking words he tormented us with. Then he
bid us quit him, promising that he would once more examine into the
matter of that young criminal.

Within doors supper was now ready, but we, as beseemed us, kept out of
the way. My brother's case was now in safe hands, inasmuch as my Uncle
Conrad and Christian sat at table with my lord. Likewise we were much
comforted, whereas my aunt told us that the elder Knight, Junker Henning
von Beust's father, who was here in the Elector's following, had, of his
own free will, said to her that he now rued his deed in so violently
accusing Herdegen, by reason that his son, who was now past all danger,
had earnestly besought him to save this man, whose skill was truly a
marvel, and had likewise said that he whom Hans Haller had honored with
his friendship could not have practised black arts. Also he held me dear
as the widowed maid to whom his friend was to have been wed, and he could
never forgive himself if fresh woe came upon me through him or his kith
and kin.

All this was glad tidings indeed, not alone for Herdegen's sake, but also
by reason that there are few greater joys than that of finding good cause
to approve one whom we respect, and yet whom we have begun to doubt.

Ann and I went to our chamber greatly comforted, and in such good heart
as at that time I could be, and when from thence I heard Uncle
Christian's great voi