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Updated: June 4, 2025
By the way, Highness, how did you happen to meet Countess von Sayn in Pfalz?" "We will tell you about that later, Guardian," said Hildegunde, before Roland could speak. "What instructions did his Lordship of Mayence give concerning me?" "He asked me to bring you to my palace in Frankfort, and subtly expressed the hope you had changed your mind."
"'Indeed, Captain, replied the host, 'I have as little liking for an aristocrat as for a monk, so you may depend that I will keep him safe enough until you order his release. "Now, my dear Hildegunde, you see there was no mistake on my part.
Linz's fate was settled when the handwriting of my predecessor, prelate of 1250 A.D., convinced me that this Rhine town belonged to the House of Sayn. Restitution has already been accomplished in due legal form, and when next the Countess Hildegunde rides through Linz, she rides through her own town." "I shall never, never accept it, Guardian." "It is yours now, Countess.
This conversation, which she could not help but hear, had driven entirely from the mind of Hildegunde the pretty story of the English Princess. "Why, Guardian!" she said, "we seem to be in the midst of impending civil war." The Archbishop smiled. "We are in the midst of an assured peace," he replied.
Did my guardian make any statement to you yesterday afternoon that revealed the object of this coming Court?" "None whatever. Our conversation related entirely to your estate and my management of it. We spoke of crops, of cultivation, and of vineyards." "You have no knowledge, then, of the reason why we are summoned hither?" "On that subject, Hildegunde, I am as ignorant as you."
The Archbishop sat on his horse for some minutes, watching the departing force, then called Roland to his right hand, and Hildegunde to his left, and thus the three set out on the short journey to Sayn. "Your Highness," began the Archbishop, "I find myself in a position of some embarrassment. I think explanations are due to me from you both.
As the venerable Archbishop spoke with such deep earnestness, in a voice she loved so well, the girl buried her face in her hands, and he could see the tears trickle between her fingers. A silence followed her guardian's appeal, disturbed only by the agitated breathing of Hildegunde.
"My Lord, my Lord!" cried Roland, raising his hand, "you do not know all." "Patient Heaven!" cried the irritated Archbishop, "you make too much of us as father confessors. Do not tell us now you have been guilty of assassination!" "No, my Lord, but you should know that I have married the Lady Hildegunde, Countess von Sayn, whom you have already rejected as Empress."
"But that means a battle!" "A battle that will never take place, Hildegunde, because I shall seize something much more valuable than any town, namely, the persons of the two Archbishops. With their Lordships of Treves and Mayence in my custody, cut off from communication with their own troops, I have slight fear of a leaderless army.
He looked at Hildegunde who with a death-like face was standing beside him. Grief stabbed cruelly at his heart, but he must obey the call of honour and duty, and, informing the royal messenger that he would arrive at the imperial camp in three days, he turned sorrowfully away, Hildegunde sobbing at his side. The cross and the half-moon were fighting furiously for the upper hand in Spain.
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