lance and sword all the knights of this tournament have fallen
away, I only excepted, who can make no claim to the choicest
prize of victory, since I, as the image on my breastplate may
show, already serve another mistress."

The duke was even now advancing towards the two warriors, to
lead them into the golden bower, but Hildegardis restrained
him with a look of displeasure, saying immediately, while her
cheeks glowed with anger, "Then you seem, Sir Froda, the
Danish knight, to serve your lady ill; for even now you openly
styled me the fairest of living ladies."

"That did I," answered Froda, bending courteously, "because my
fair mistress belongs to the dead."

A slight shudder passed at these words through the assembly,
and through the heart of Hildegardis; but soon the anger of
the maiden blazed forth again, and the more because the most
wonderful and excellent knight she knew had scorned her for
the sake of a dead mistress.

"I make known to all," she said, with solemn earnestness,
"that according to the just decree of my imperial uncle, this
hand can never belong to a vanquished knight, however noble
and honourable he may otherwise have proved himself. As the
conqueror of this tournament, therefore, is bound to another
service, this combat concerns me not; and I depart hence as
I came, a free and unbetrothed maiden."

The duke seemed about to reply, but she turned haughtily away,