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〃What mean ye？〃 cried Count Ludwig； deeply affected。 〃A false
friend？ I am not a false friend。 A false woman？ Surely the
lovely Theodora； your wife〃
〃I have no wife； Louis； now； I have no wife and no son。〃
。 。 。 。 。 。
In accents broken by grief； the Margrave explained what had
occurred。 Gottfried's information was but too correct。 There was
a CAUSE for the likeness between Otto and Sir Hildebrandt： a fatal
cause！ Hildebrandt and Theodora had met at dawn at the outer gate。
The Margrave had seen them。 They walked long together； they
embraced。 Ah！ how the husband's； the father's； feelings were
harrowed at that embrace！ They parted； and then the Margrave；
coming forward； coldly signified to his lady that she was to retire
to a convent for life； and gave orders that the boy should be sent
too； to take the vows at a monastery。
Both sentences had been executed。 Otto； in a boat； and guarded by
a company of his father's men…at…arms； was on the river going
towards Cologne； to the monastery of Saint Buffo there。 The Lady
Theodora； under the guard of Sir Gottfried and an attendant； were
on their way to the convent of Nonnenwerth； which many of our
readers have seenthe beautiful Green Island Convent； laved by the
bright waters of the Rhine！
〃What road did Gottfried take？〃 asked the Knight of Hombourg；
grinding his teeth。
〃You cannot overtake him；〃 said the Margrave。 〃My good Gottfried；
he is my only comfort now： he is my kinsman； and shall be my heir。
He will be back anon。〃
〃Will he so？〃 thought Sir Ludwig。 〃I will ask him a few questions
ere he return。〃 And springing from his couch； he began forthwith
to put on his usual morning dress of complete armor； and； after a
hasty ablution； donned； not his cap of maintenance； but his helmet
of battle。 He rang the bell violently。
〃A cup of coffee； straight；〃 said he； to the servitor who answered
the summons； 〃bid the cook pack me a sausage and bread in paper；
and the groom saddle Streithengst； we have far to ride。〃
The various orders were obeyed。 The horse was brought； the
refreshments disposed of； the clattering steps of the departing
steed were heard in the court…yard； but the Margrave took no notice
of his friend； and sat； plunged in silent grief； quite motionless
by the empty bedside。
CHAPTER V。
THE TRAITOR'S DOOM。
The Hombourger led his horse down the winding path which conducts
from the hill and castle of Godesberg into the beautiful green
plain below。 Who has not seen that lovely plain； and who that has
seen it has not loved it？ A thousand sunny vineyards and
cornfields stretch around in peaceful luxuriance； the mighty Rhine
floats by it in silver magnificence； and on the opposite bank rise
the seven mountains robed in majestic purple； the monarchs of the
royal scene。
A pleasing poet； Lord Byron； in describing this very scene； has
mentioned that 〃peasant girls； with dark blue eyes； and hands that
offer cake and wine；〃 are perpetually crowding round the traveller
in this delicious district； and proffering to him their rustic
presents。 This was no doubt the case in former days； when the
noble bard wrote his elegant poemsin the happy ancient days！ when
maidens were as yet generous； and men kindly！ Now the degenerate
peasantry of the district are much more inclined to ask than to
give； and their blue eyes seem to have disappeared with their
generosity。
But as it was a long time ago that the events of our story
occurred； 'tis probable that the good Knight Ludwig of Hombourg was
greeted upon his path by this fascinating peasantry； though we know
not how he accepted their welcome。 He continued his ride across
the flat green country until he came to Rolandseck； whence he could
command the Island of Nonnenwerth （that lies in the Rhine opposite
that place）； and all who went to it or passed from it。
Over the entrance of a little cavern in one of the rocks hanging
above the Rhine…stream at Rolandseck； and covered with odoriferous
cactuses and silvery magnolias； the traveller of the present day
may perceive a rude broken image of a saint： that image represented
the venerable Saint Buffo of Bonn； the patron of the Margrave； and
Sir Ludwig； kneeling on the greensward； and reciting a censer； an
ave； and a couple of acolytes before it； felt encouraged to think
that the deed he meditated was about to be performed under the very
eyes of his friend's sanctified patron。 His devotion done （and the
knight of those days was as pious as he was brave）； Sir Ludwig； the
gallant Hombourger； exclaimed with a loud voice：
〃Ho！ hermit！ holy hermit； art thou in thy cell？〃
〃Who calls the poor servant of heaven and Saint Buffo？〃 exclaimed a
voice from the cavern； and presently； from beneath the wreaths of
geranium and magnolia； appeared an intensely venerable； ancient；
and majestic head'twas that； we need not say； of Saint Buffo's
solitary。 A silver beard hanging to his knees gave his person an
appearance of great respectability； his body was robed in simple
brown serge； and girt with a knotted cord： his ancient feet were
only defended from the prickles and stones by the rudest sandals；
and his bald and polished head was bare。
〃Holy hermit；〃 said the knight； in a grave voice； 〃make ready thy
ministry； for there is some one about to die。〃
〃Where； son？〃
〃Here； father。〃
〃Is he here； now？〃
〃Perhaps；〃 said the stout warrior； crossing himself； 〃but not so if
right prevail。〃 At this moment he caught sight of a ferry…boat
putting off from Nonnenwerth； with a knight on board。 Ludwig knew
at once； by the sinople reversed and the truncated gules on his
surcoat； that it was Sir Gottfried of Godesberg。
〃Be ready； father；〃 said the good knight； pointing towards the
advancing boat； and waving his hand by way of respect to the
reverend hermit； without a further word； he vaulted into his
saddle； and rode back for a few score of paces； when he wheeled
round； and remained steady。 His great lance and pennon rose in the
air。 His armor glistened in the sun； the chest and head of his
battle…horse were similarly covered with steel。 As Sir Gottfried；
likewise armed and mounted （for his horse had been left at the
ferry hard by）； advanced up the road； he almost started at the
figure before hima glistening tower of steel。
〃Are you the lord of this pass； Sir Knight？〃 said Sir Gottfried；
haughtily； 〃or do you hold it against all comers； in honor of your
lady…love？〃
〃I am not the lord of this pass。 I do not hold it against all
comers。 I hold it but against one； and he is a liar and a
traitor。〃
〃As the matter concerns me not； I pray you let me pass；〃 said
Gottfried。
〃The matter DOES concern thee； Gottfried of Godesberg。 Liar and
traitor！ art thou coward； too？〃
〃Holy Saint Buffo！ 'tis a fight！〃 exclaimed the old hermit （who；
too； had been a gallant warrior in his day）； and like the old war…
horse that hears the trumpet's sound； and spite of his clerical
profession； he prepared to look on at the combat with no ordinary
eagerness； and sat down on the overhanging ledge of the rock；
lighting his pipe； and affecting unconcern； but in reality most
deeply interested in the event which was about to ensue。
As soon as the word 〃coward〃 had been pronounced by Sir Ludwig； his
opponent； uttering a curse far too horrible to be inscribed here；
had wheeled back his powerful piebald； and brought his lance to the
rest。
〃Ha！ Beauseant！〃 cried he。 〃Allah humdillah！〃 'Twas the battle…
cry in Palestine of the irresistible Knights Hospitallers。 〃Look
to thyself； Sir Knight； and for mercy from heaven！ I will give
thee none。〃
〃A Bugo for Katzenellenbogen！〃 exclaimed Sir Ludwig； piously： that；
too； was the well…known war…cry of his princely race。
〃I will give the signal；〃 said the old hermit； waving his pipe。
〃Knights； are you ready？ One； two； three。 LOS！〃 （let go。）
At the signal； the two steeds tore up the ground like whirlwinds；
the two knights； two flashing perpendicular masses of steel；
rapidly converged； the two lances met upon the two shields of
either； and shivered； splintered； shattered into ten hundred
thousand pieces； which whirled through the air here and there；
among the rocks； or in the trees； or in the river。 The two horses
fell back trembling on their haunches； where they remained for half
a minute or so。
〃Holy Buffo！ a brave stroke！〃 said the old hermit。 〃Marry； but a
splinter wellnigh took off my nose！〃 The honest hermit waved his
pipe in delight； not perceiving that one of the splinters had
carried off the head of it； and rendered his favorite amusement
impossible。 〃Ha！ they are to it again！ O my！ how they go to with
their great swords！ Well stricken； gray！ Well parried； piebald！
Ha； that was a slicer