: "Father Ambrose
asserted that you were a companion of drinkers and brawlers in a low
wine cellar of Frankfort."

"Quite true; a score of them."

The girl became more and more perplexed.

"Did you imprison Father Ambrose?"

"Yes; in the lowest wine cellar, but only for a day or two. I am very
sorry, Madam, but it was a stern necessity of war. He was meddling with
affairs he knew nothing of, and there was no time for explanations. He,
a man of peace, would not have sanctioned what there was to do even if I
had explained."

"He says," continued the girl, "that he saw you rob a merchant of a bag
of gold."

"That is untrue!" cried the Prince.

"My dear Hildegunde, what is the robbing of a bag of gold from a
merchant when he admits having stolen gold by the castle full?"

"I robbed no merchant," protested the Prince. "How could Father Ambrose
make such a statement?"

"He mounted an outside stairway on the Fahrgasse, and through lighted
windows on the opposite side saw you place the point of your sword at
the throat of an unarmed merchant, and take from him a bag of gold."

Roland, whose brow had been knitted into an angry frown, now threw back
his head and laughed joyously.

"Oh, that was a mere frolic," he alleged.

It was the girl's turn to frown.

"When you took stolen treasure from thievish Barons and Margraves
protected by scores of armed men, with the object of breaking their
power, for the relief of commerce, I admired you, but to say that the
despoiling of a helpless merchant is a frolic--"

"No, no, my dear, you do not understand," eagerly corrected the Prince,
unconscious of the affectionate phrase that caused a flush to rise in
the cheeks of his listener. "The merchant was, and is, my partner; a
blameless man, Herr Goebel, who came near to being hanged on my behalf
when these Archbishops took me captive. I sought from him a thousand
thalers; he insisted on learning my plans for opening the Rhine, and
still would not give the money until, reluctantly, I was obliged to
confess myself son of the Emperor. This he could not credit, stipulating
that before giving the money I must produce for him a safe-conduct,
signed by the Emperor, and verified by the Great Seal of the Empire.
This document I obtained at dire personal risk, through the aid of my
mother. Here it is."

He thrust his hand into his doublet, and produced the parchment in
question, delivering it to the lady, who, however, did not unfold