several pieces of armor, beautifully embossed, and some
artistically-wrought iron articles. The left-hand one was partly open,
granting entrance to the autumn sunshine. Ulrich dismissed the servant,
took the mementos of his mother in his hand, and listened to the
hammer-strokes, that echoed from within.

The familiar sound recalled pleasant memories of his childhood and
cooled his hot blood. Count Philipp was right. His father was an old
man, and entitled to demand respect from his son. He must endure from
him what he would tolerate from no one else. Nay, he again felt that it
was a great happiness to be near the beloved one, from whom he had
so long been parted; whatever separated him from his old father, must
surely vanish into nothing, as soon as they looked into each other's
eyes.

What a master in his trade, his father still was! No one else would have
found it so easy to forge the steel coat of mail with the Medusa head
in the centre. He was not working alone here as he did at Richtberg; for
Ulrich heard more than one hammer striking iron in the workshop.

Before touching the knocker, he looked into the open window.

A woman's tall figure was standing at the desk. Her back was turned, and
he saw only the round outline of the head, the long black braids, the
plain dress, bordered with velvet, and the lace in the neck. An elderly
man in the costume of a merchant was just holding out his hand in
farewell, and he heard him say: "You've bought too cheap again, far too
cheap, Jungfer Ruth."

"Just a fair price," she answered quietly. "You will have a good
profit, and we can afford to pay it. I shall expect the iron day after
to-morrow."

"It will be delivered before noon. Master Adam has a treasure in you,
dear Jungfer. If my son were alive, I know where he would seek a wife.
Wilhelm Ykens has told me of his troubles; he is a skilful goldsmith.
Why do you give the poor fellow no hope? Consider! You are past twenty,
and every year it grows harder to say yes to a lover."

"Nothing suits me better, than to stay with father," she answered gaily.
"He can't do without me, you know, nor I without him. I have no dislike
to Wilhelm, but it seems very easy to live without him. Farewell, Father
Keulitz."

Ulrich withdrew from the window, until the merchant had vanished down
a side street; then he again glanced into the narrow room. Ruth was now
seated at the desk, but instead of looking over the open account book,
her e