to Ursula's
good words and commended us to the same confidence; now, however, he
remembered on a sudden how ill-disposed she had ever been to my lost
brother, and whereas it was the season of the year when the trading fleet
should set sail from Venice for Alexandria in the land of Egypt, he sent
forth a messenger to Kunz, charging him to take ship himself and go
thither to seek his brother. This filled Ann and me likewise with fresh
hope and true thankfulness. Yet, in truth, as for my grand-uncle, he owed
much to Ann; her mere presence was as dew on his withered heart, and the
hope she kept alive in him, that her uncle, my lord Cardinal, would ere
long reach home and gladly fulfil his desires, gave him strength and will
to live on, and kept the feeble spark of life burning.

CHAPTER IX.

The month of October had come; the Forest claimed us once more, and
indeed at that season I was needed at the Forest lodge. A pressing
bidding had likewise come to Ann; yet, albeit her much sitting in my
grand-uncle's hot chamber had been visited on her with many a headache,
she had made her attendance on him one of her duties and nought could
move her to be unfaithful.

Moreover, it was known to us that by far the greater half of the Venetian
galleons had sailed from the Lido between the 8th and 25th of the past
month, and were due to be at home again by the middle of October or early
in November. A much lesser fleet went forth from Venice late in the year
and came to anchor there again, loaded with spices, in the month of March
or not later than April. Hence now was the time when we might most surely
look for tidings from the Levant, and Ann would not be out of the way in
case any such might come to Nuremberg.

I rode forth on Saint Dionysius' day, the 9th day of October, alone with
Cousin Maud; other guests were not long in following us and among them my
brothers-in-law and the young Loffelholz pair; Elsa Ebner having wed,
some months since, with young Jorg Loffelholz.

Uncle Christian would come later and, if she would consent, would bring
Ann with him, for he held himself bound to give his "little watchman"
some fresh air. Also he was a great friend in the Pernharts' house, and
aught more happy and pleasant than his talks with the old Dame can scarce
be conceived of.

Never had the well-beloved home in the Forest been more like to a pigeon
cote. Every day brought us new guests, many of them from the city; still,
none h