it he pictured the
welcome which his fond Herzogin would give him, but scarcely had the
drawbridge been lowered to admit him to his castle ere a fell piece of
news was imparted to him. In short, it transpired that his wife Elise
had been unfaithful to him during his absence and, on hearing that
he was returning, had fled precipitately with her infant son. It was
rumoured that she had found refuge in a convent, but Wolfram was quite
unable to ascertain his wife's whereabouts, the doors of all nunneries
being impassable to men; while even the joy of revenge was denied him,
for, try as he might, he could not find out the name of the person who
had wronged him. So the Herzog was broken-hearted, and he vowed that
henceforth he would live a solitary life within his castle, spending his
time in prayer and seeing only his own retainers.

For many years this vow was piously observed, and Wolfram never stirred
abroad. In course of time, however, he began to chafe at the restraint,
feeling it the more acutely because he was an old soldier and had known
the excitement of warfare; and so it came about that he revoked his
decision and began to travel about the country as of old. It seemed
also, to some of his henchmen, that he was gradually becoming more like
his former self, and they sometimes said among themselves that he would
marry again and had quite forgotten his wrongs. But the very reverse was
the truth, and if Wolfram was growing more cheerful, it was because new
hopes of retribution were springing up in his heart. The chance would
come, he often told himself; surely the fates would one day confront him
with his wife's lover! And one day, as he rode through the village of
Gudesburg, these revengeful thoughts were uppermost in his mind. They
engrossed him wholly, and he took little heed of the passers-by; but an
unexpected stumble on the part of his horse caused him to look up, and
of a sudden his eyes blazed like live coals. Here, walking only a few
yards away from him, was a youth who bore an unmistakable resemblance to
the unfaithful Elise; and dismounting instantly, the Herzog strode up
to the stranger, hailed him loudly, and proceeded to question him
concerning his identity. The youth was surprised at the anger expressed
on the elder man's countenance; and being overawed, he answered all
questions without hesitation, unfolding the little he knew about his
parentage. Nor had Wolfram's instincts deceived him; the tale he he