bjection, but of course you need not use the
document unless you wish, though I think if you see twenty-one looped
ropes dangling in the air your hesitation will vanish. Oh, not on your
own account," cried Goebel, as a sign of dissent from his visitor, "but
because of those twenty fine young fellows who doubtless wait to drink
wine with you."

"That is true," said Roland, with a sigh, folding up the stiff
parchment, opening his cloak, and thrusting it under his belt, standing
up as he did this.

"Bring me that parchment, bearing the Emperor's signature and the Great
Seal, and you will find the golden coins awaiting you."

"Very well. At what time this evening would it please you to admit me?"

"Friends of mine are coming to-night, but they are not likely to stop
long; merely a few handshakes, and a few cups of wine. I shall be ready
for you when the Cathedral clock strikes ten."

With this the long conference ended, and the aged servitor in the hall
showed Roland into the Fahrgasse.

As the young man proceeded down the Weckmarkt into the Saalgasse, he
muttered to himself:

"The penurious old scoundrel! God keep me in future from dealing with
such! To the very last he suspects me of being a forger, and has written
this with his own hand, doubtless filling it with secret marks. Still,
perhaps it is as well to possess such a safeguard. This is my loophole
out of the coming enterprise, I fear we are all cowards, noble and
merchant alike."

He walked slowly past the city front of the Palace, cogitating some
means of entering without revealing his identity, but soon found that
even this casual scrutiny made him an object of suspicion. He could not
risk being accosted, for, if taken to the guard-room and
questioned--searched, perhaps, and the sword found on him--a
complication would arise adding materially to the difficulties already
in his way. Quickening his pace, he passed through the Fahrthor, and so
to the river-bank, where he saw that the side of the Saalhof fronting
the Main was guarded merely by one or two sentries, for the mob could
not gather on the surface of the waters, as it gathered on the
cobble-stones of the Saalgasse and the Fahrthor.

Retracing his steps, the Prince walked rapidly until he came to the
bridge, advancing to the iron Cross which commemorates the fowl
sacrifice to the devil, as the first living creature venturing upon that
ancient structure. Here he leaned against the parapet, gazed at