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well cared for； that he entered the castle itself； and was
conducted to his chamber。 Wax…candles burning bright on the
mantel； flowers in china vases； every variety of soap； and a flask
of the precious essence manufactured at the neighboring city of
Cologne； were displayed on his toilet…table； a cheering fire
〃crackled on the hearth；〃 and showed that the good knight's coming
had been looked and cared for。 The serving…maidens； bringing him
hot water for his ablutions； smiling asked； 〃Would he have his
couch warmed at eve？〃 One might have been sure from their blushes
that the tough old soldier made an arch reply。 The family tonsor
came to know whether the noble Count had need of his skill。 〃By
Saint Bugo；〃 said the knight； as seated in an easy settle by the
fire； the tonsor rid his chin of its stubby growth； and lightly
passed the tongs and pomatum through 〃the sable silver〃 of his
hair；〃By Saint Bugo； this is better than my dungeon at Grand
Cairo。 How is my godson Otto； master barber； and the lady
countess； his mother； and the noble Count Karl； my dear brother…
in…arms？〃
〃They are well；〃 said the tonsor； with a sigh。
〃By Saint Bugo； I'm glad on't； but why that sigh？〃
〃Things are not as they have been with my good lord；〃 answered the
hairdresser； 〃ever since Count Gottfried's arrival。〃
〃He here！〃 roared Sir Ludwig。 〃Good never came where Gottfried
was！〃 and the while he donned a pair of silken hose； that showed
admirably the proportions of his lower limbs； and exchanged his
coat of mail for the spotless vest and black surcoat collared with
velvet of Genoa； which was the fitting costume for 〃knight in
ladye's bower；〃 the knight entered into a conversation with the
barber； who explained to him； with the usual garrulousness of his
tribe； what was the present position of the noble family of
Godesberg。
This will be narrated in the next chapter。
CHAPTER II。
THE GODESBERGERS。
'Tis needless to state that the gallant warrior Ludwig of Hombourg
found in the bosom of his friend's family a cordial welcome。 The
brother…in…arms of the Margrave Karl； he was the esteemed friend of
the Margravine； the exalted and beautiful Theodora of Boppum； and
（albeit no theologian； and although the first princes of
Christendom coveted such an honor；） he was selected to stand as
sponsor for the Margrave's son Otto； the only child of his house。
It was now seventeen years since the Count and Countess had been
united： and although heaven had not blessed their couch with more
than one child； it may be said of that one that it was a prize； and
that surely never lighted on the earth a more delightful vision。
When Count Ludwig； hastening to the holy wars； had quitted his
beloved godchild； he had left him a boy； he now found him； as the
latter rushed into his arms； grown to be one of the finest young
men in Germany： tall and excessively graceful in proportion； with
the blush of health mantling upon his cheek； that was likewise
adorned with the first down of manhood； and with magnificent golden
ringlets； such as a Rowland might envy； curling over his brow and
his shoulders。 His eyes alternately beamed with the fire of
daring； or melted with the moist glance of benevolence。 Well might
a mother be proud of such a boy。 Well might the brave Ludwig
exclaim； as he clasped the youth to his breast； 〃By St。 Bugo of
Katzenellenbogen； Otto； thou art fit to be one of Coeur de Lion's
grenadiers！〃 and it was the fact： the 〃Childe〃 of Godesberg
measured six feet three。
He was habited for the evening meal in the costly； though simple
attire of the nobleman of the periodand his costume a good deal
resembled that of the old knight whose toilet we have just
described； with the difference of color； however。 The pourpoint
worn by young Otto of Godesberg was of blue； handsomely decorated
with buttons of carved and embossed gold； his haut…de…chausses； or
leggings； were of the stuff of Nanquin； then brought by the Lombard
argosies at an immense price from China。 The neighboring country
of Holland had supplied his wrists and bosom with the most costly
laces； and thus attired； with an opera…hat placed on one side of
his head； ornamented with a single flower； （that brilliant one； the
tulip；） the boy rushed into his godfather's dressing…room； and
warned him that the banquet was ready。
It was indeed： a frown had gathered on the dark brows of the Lady
Theodora； and her bosom heaved with an emotion akin to indignation；
for she feared lest the soups in the refectory and the splendid
fish now smoking there were getting cold： she feared not for
herself； but for her lord's sake。 〃Godesberg；〃 whispered she to
Count Ludwig； as trembling on his arm they descended from the
drawing…room； 〃Godesberg is sadly changed of late。〃
〃By St。 Bugo！〃 said the burly knight； starting； 〃these are the very
words the barber spake。〃
The lady heaved a sigh； and placed herself before the soup…tureen。
For some time the good Knight Ludwig of Hombourg was too much
occupied in ladling out the forced…meat balls and rich calves' head
of which the delicious pottage was formed （in ladling them out； did
we say？ ay； marry； and in eating them； too；） to look at his
brother…in…arms at the bottom of the table； where he sat with his
son on his left hand； and the Baron Gottfried on his right。
The Margrave was INDEED changed。 〃By St。 Bugo；〃 whispered Ludwig
to the Countess； your husband is as surly as a bear that hath been
wounded o' the head。〃 Tears falling into her soup…plate were her
only reply。 The soup； the turbot； the haunch of mutton； Count
Ludwig remarked that the Margrave sent all away untasted。
〃The boteler will serve ye with wine； Hombourg；〃 said the Margrave
gloomily from the end of the table： not even an invitation to
drink！ how different was this from the old times！
But when in compliance with this order the boteler proceeded to
hand round the mantling vintage of the Cape to the assembled party；
and to fill young Otto's goblet； （which the latter held up with the
eagerness of youth；） the Margrave's rage knew no bounds。 He rushed
at his son； he dashed the wine…cup over his spotless vest： and
giving him three or four heavy blows which would have knocked down
a bonassus； but only caused the young Childe to blush： 〃YOU take
wine！〃 roared out the Margrave； 〃YOU dare to help yourself！ Who
time d…v…l gave YOU leave to help yourself？〃 and the terrible blows
were reiterated over the delicate ears of the boy。
〃Ludwig！ Ludwig！〃 shrieked the Margravine。
〃Hold your prate； madam；〃 roared the Prince。 〃By St。 Buffo； mayn't
a father beat his own child？〃
〃HIS OWN CHILD！〃 repeated the Margrave with a burst； almost a
shriek of indescribable agony。 〃Ah； what did I say？〃
Sir Ludwig looked about him in amaze； Sir Gottfried （at the
Margrave's right hand） smiled ghastily； the young Otto was too much
agitated by the recent conflict to wear any expression but that of
extreme discomfiture； but the poor Margravine turned her head aside
and blushed； red almost as the lobster which flanked the turbot
before her。
In those rude old times； 'tis known such table quarrels were by no
means unusual amongst gallant knights； and Ludwig； who had oft seen
the Margrave cast a leg of mutton at an offending servitor； or
empty a sauce…boat in the direction of the Margravine； thought this
was but one of the usual outbreaks of his worthy though irascible
friend； and wisely determined to change the converse。
〃How is my friend；〃 said he； 〃the good knight； Sir Hildebrandt？〃
〃By Saint Buffo； this is too much！〃 screamed the Margrave； and
actually rushed from time room。
〃By Saint Bugo；〃 said his friend； 〃gallant knights； gentle sirs；
what ails my good Lord Margave？〃
〃Perhaps his nose bleeds；〃 said Gottfried； with a sneer。
〃Ah； my kind friend；〃 said the Margravine with uncontrollable
emotion； 〃I fear some of you have passed from the frying…pan into
the fire。〃 And making the signal of departure to the ladies； they
rose and retired to coffee in the drawing…room。
The Margrave presently came back again； somewhat more collected
than he had been。 〃Otto；〃 he said sternly； 〃go join the ladies： it
becomes not a young boy to remain in the company of gallant knights
after dinner。〃 The noble Childe with manifest unwillingness
quitted the room； and the Margrave； taking his lady's place at the
head of the table； whispered to Sir Ludwig； 〃Hildebrandt will be
here to…night to an evening…party； given in honor of your return
from Palestine。 My good friendmy true friendmy old companion
in arms； Sir Gottfried！ you had best see that the fiddlers be not
drunk； and that the crumpets be gotten ready。〃 Sir Gottfried；
obsequiously taking his patron's hint； bowed and left the room。
〃You shall know all soon； dear Ludwig；〃 said the Margrave； with a
hea