Sperver stood behind us, very well satisfied that I was admiring the
dwarf of Nideck. In spite of the ill luck which, in his opinion,
accompanied the little monster's appearance, he respected and boasted
of his superior knowledge.

"Sir," said Knapwurst, pointing with his yellow hand to the portraits,
"Hugh of Nideck, the first of his illustrious race, married, in 832,
Hedwige of Lutzelbourg, who brought to him in dowry the counties of
Giromani and Haut Barr, the castles of Geroldseck, Teufelshorn, and
others. Hugh Lupus had no issue by his first wife, who died young, in the
year of our Lord 837. Then Hugh, having become lord and owner of the
dowry, refused to give it up, and there were terrible battles between
himself and his brothers-in-law. But his second wife, Huldine, whom you
see there in a steel breastplate, aided him by her sage counsel. It is
unknown whence or of what family she came, but for all that she saved
Hugh's life, who had been made prisoner by Frantz of Lutzelbourg. He was
to have been hanged that very day, and a gibbet had already been set up
on the ramparts, when Huldine, at the head of her husband's vassals, whom
she had armed and inspired with her own courage, bravely broke in,
released Hugh, and hung Frantz in his place. Hugh had married his wife
in 842, and had three children by her."

"So," I resumed pensively, "the first of these wives was called Hedwige,
and the descendants of Nideck are not related to her?"

"Not at all."

"Are you quite sure?"

"I can show you our genealogical tree; Hedwige had no children; Huldine,