he gaoler shook his head suspiciously. 'God knows,' said he,
clinking the keys attached to his waist-belt, 'God knows how willingly
I would take your gold. But one must have discretion, captain, and use
the little judgment God has given him. Your purse would be very useful
to me, but my head is still more so, and it is that which I should
peril. Therefore have the goodness to retire, that I may not suffer
inconvenience from being seen talking to you here.' With this he opened
a little wicket by the side of the great gate, and pointing the way
out, made at the same time a very low bow.

Arwed angrily complied with the hard necessity, and, as he now
considered the rejected purse as unworthy of being returned to his
pocket, he threw it to an invalid soldier who limped past him on his
crutches, and was on the point of hastening away.

'Take me with you, count Gyllenstierna!' cried a low, melodious voice,
behind him. He turned around, and saw a man of about forty years of
age, with an intelligent, bold and honest face, in a clerical dress,
who had followed him out of the house.

'Do you know me, reverend sir?' asked Arwed with surprise.

'Only from the conversations of the unfortunate man to whom you just
now wished to purchase admission,' answered the clergyman, proceeding
with him towards the city. 'But your whole manner and bearing told me
that you must be captain Gyllenstierna, and there is no one to whom I
could better appeal than you. I am preacher to the German community in
this place. Baron von Goertz has requested my spiritual assistance,
which I have truly rendered to him with both joy and sorrow. But the
undeserved fate of my unhappy countryman has so affected me that I am
determined to do something more for him. His immortal soul is well
prepared by a blameless life, and by a true and genuine faith which I
have perceived in him. I would also gladly save his mortal body, that
the intelligent and well disposed man may be enabled yet further to
labor for the benefit of this country, or for some other, if Sweden is
unwise enough to repudiate him.'

'Worthy servant of God!' exclaimed Arwed, with a sudden pressure of his
hand.

'First of all,' proceeded the preacher, 'I will make an effort with the
queen. I have been to the palace three times already. Her majesty,
however, was never to be spoken with, which I attribute to the numerous
enemies which Goertz has made amongst the courtiers.'

'You might as well att