said he - "what hath she to say at this?"

"She hath naught to say," said Baron Conrad, hoarsely, and then
stopped short in his speech. "She is dead," said he, at last, in
a husky voice, "and is with God's angels in paradise."

The Abbot looked intently in the Baron's face. "So!" said he,
under his breath, and then for the first time noticed how white
and drawn was the Baron's face. "Art sick thyself?" he asked.

"Ay," said the Baron, "I have come from death's door. But that
is no matter. Wilt thou take this little babe into sanctuary? My
house is a vile, rough place, and not fit for such as he, and
his mother with the blessed saints in heaven." And once more
Conrad of Drachenhausen's face began twitching with the pain of
his thoughts.

"Yes," said the old man, gently, "he shall live here," and he
stretched out his hands and took the babe. "Would," said he,
"that all the little children in these dark times might be thus
brought to the house of God, and there learn mercy and peace,
instead of rapine and war."

For a while he stood looking down in silence at the baby in his
arms, but with his mind far away upon other things. At last he
roused himself with a start. "And thou," said he to the Baron
Conrad - "hath not thy heart been chastened and softened by
this? Surely thou wilt not go back to thy old life of rapine and
extortion?"