nd and to succumb are two different
things."

"Succumb!" Sir Hans von Obernitz, the Nuremberg magistrate, here
interposed indignantly. "A Groland, who, moreover, is blessed with a
loyal, lovely wife, succumb to the sparkling eyes of a vagabond wanton!
The Pegnitz would flow up the castle cliff first. I should think we might
have less vulgar subjects to discuss."

"The daring, skilful ropedancer certainly does not belong to the latter,"
Doctor Peutinger eagerly retorted. "Besides, who would not desire to know
how the free, hot-blooded daughter of the highway settled the account
with you, friend Lienhard? Love disdained is said to be the mother of
hatred, and from the days of Potiphar's wife has often caused cruel
vengeance. Had this girl whom Sir Hans holds in such light esteem really
possessed an evil nature, like others of her class--"

"That she does not," Lienhard Groland here warmly interrupted the
Augsburg guest.

"Whatever Kuni may lack, and whatever errors she may have committed, she
is, and will remain a rare creature, even among the few whose lofty
spirit can not be bowed or broken by the deepest calamity. When I met her
here again at The Blue Pike, among the most corrupt vagabonds, ill and
poor, perhaps already the victim of death, I thought it a fitting time to
renew the gift which she had refused. I would gladly do more for the poor
girl, and my wife at home certainly would not be vexed; she, too, is fond
of Kuni, and--I repeat it--this girl has a good, nay, the best nature.
If, instead of among vagabonds, she had been born in a respectable
household--"

Here the young envoy was suddenly interrupted. His table companions also
raised their heads in surprise--a strange noise echoed through the night
air.

Little Doctor Eberbach started up in affright, Hans von Obernitz, the
Nuremberg magistrate, grasped the hilt of his sword, but Doctor Schedel
instantly perceived that the sound which reached his aged ears was
nothing but a violent, long-repressed fit of coughing. He and the other
gentlemen were gazing at the oleander tree whence, before any one
approached it, a groan of pain was heard.

The experienced physician shook his white locks gravely and said:

"Whoever uttered that is near the end of his sufferings."

He made a movement to rise as he spoke; he felt that his help was needed.

But another incident diverted the attention of his companions and
himself.

CHAPTER XI.

Dietel, the wait