answer. He struggled silently on beside his master against the
wind, until it suddenly subsided, and a violent storm of rain streamed
in big warm drops on the thirsty earth and the belated pedestrians.
Then, spite of Heinz's protestations, Biberli hurriedly snatched the
long robe embroidered with the St from his shoulders and threw it over
his master, declaring that his shirt was as safe from injury as his
skin, but the rain would ruin the knight's delicate embroidered doublet.

Then he drew over his head the hood which hung from his coat, and
meanwhile must have decided upon an answer, for as soon as they moved on
he began again: "You must drive your love for the beautiful sleepwalker
out of your mind. Try to do so, my dear, dear master, for the sake
of your lady mother, your young sister who will soon be old enough to
marry, our light-hearted Maria, and the good old castle. For your own
happiness, your lofty career, which began so gloriously, you must hear
me! O master, my dear master, tear from your heart the image of the
little Nuremberg witch, tempting though it is, I admit. The wound will
bleed for a brief time, but after so much mirthful pleasure a fleeting
disappointment in love, I should think, would not be too hard to bear
if it will be speedily followed by the fairest and most enduring
happiness."

Here a flash of lightning, which illumined the hospital door close
before them, and made every surrounding object as bright as day,
interrupted the affectionate entreaty of the faithful fellow, and at the
same time a tremendous peal of thunder crashed and rattled through the
air.

Master and servant crossed themselves, but Heinz exclaimed:

"That struck the tower yonder. A little farther to the left, and all
doubts and misgivings would have been ended."

"You can say that!" exclaimed Biberli reproachfully while passing with
his master through the gate which had just been opened for an imperial
messenger. "And you dare to make such a speech in the midst of this
heavenly wrath! For the sake of a pair of lovely eyes you are ready to
execrate a life which the saints have so blessed with every gift
that thousands and tens of thousands would not give it up from sheer
gratitude and joy, even if it were not a blasphemous crime!"

Again the lightning and thunder drowned his words. Biberli's heart
trembled, and muttering prayers beseeching protection from the avenging
hand above, he walked swiftly onward till they rea