"My shadow," replied the knight. "I loosed him from my heels and bade
him stand there. But no offence, Herr Wolff Eysvogel; you'll make the
queer fellow's acquaintance if, like myself, it would be agreeable to you
to meet often, not only on iron chains, but on friendly terms with each
other."

"Nothing would please me more," replied the other. "But how in the world
could it happen that this well-guarded fortress surrendered to you after
so short a resistance?"

"Heinz Schorlin rides swiftly," he interrupted; but Wolff exclaimed:

"A swift ride awaits me, too, though of a different kind. When I return,
I shall expect you to tell me how you won our 'little saint,' my sister-
in-law Eva. The two beautiful Ortlieb 'Es' are one in the eyes of the
townsfolk, so we also will be often named in the same breath, and shall
do well to feel brotherly regard for each other. There shall be no fault
on my part. Farewell, till we meet again, an' it please God in and not
outside of our ladies' dwelling."

While speaking he clasped the knight's hand with so firm a grasp that it
seemed as if he wished to force him to feel its pressure a long time, and
hastened through the Frauenthor.

Heinz Schorlin gazed thoughtfully after him a short time, then beckoned
to Biberli and, though the interval required for him to reach his
master's side was very brief, it was sufficient for the bold young lover,
tortured by his ardent longing, to form another idea.