against her side.

It was Hans the one-eyed who stood in the doorway, and black
trouble sat on his brow; all were looking at him waiting.

"Conrad," whispered the Baroness, at last. "Where is Conrad?
Where is your master?" and even her lips were white as she
spoke.

The one-eyed Hans said nothing.

Just then came the noise of men s voices in the corridor and the
shuffle and scuffle of feet carrying a heavy load. Nearer and
nearer they came, and one-eyed Hans stood aside. Six men came
struggling through the doorway, carrying a litter, and on the
litter lay the great Baron Conrad. The flaming torch thrust into
the iron bracket against the wall flashed up with the draught of
air from the open door, and the light fell upon the white face
and the closed eyes, and showed upon his body armor a great red
stain that was not the stain of rust.

Suddenly Ursela cried out in a sharp, shrill voice, "Catch her,
she falls!"

It was the Baroness.

Then the old crone turned fiercely upon the one-eyed Hans. "Thou
fool!" she cried, "why didst thou bring him here? Thou hast
killed thy lady!"