"Won, Sir Knight--cleverly won!" was her first sentence to Heinz.

Then, turning to Els, she asked with no less animation: "And you, my fair
maid and very strict housemate, who has won the wager now? Do you still
believe it is an inconceivable thought that the modest daughter of a
decorous Nuremberg race, entitled to enter the lists of a tourney, would
grant a young knight a midnight meeting? "And addressing her companions,
she continued, in an explanatory yet still playful tone: "She was ready
to wager the beautiful brown locks which she now hides modestly under a
kerchief, and even her betrothed lover's ring. It should be mine if I
succeeded in leading her to commit such an abominable deed. But I was
content, if I won the wager, with a smaller forfeit; yet now that I have
gained it, Jungfrau Ortlieb, you must pay!"

The whole company listened in astonishment to this speech, which no one
understood, but the countess, nodding mischievously to her nearest
neighbours, went on:

"How bewildered you all look! It might tempt me to satisfy your
curiosity less speedily, but, after the delightful entertainment you gave
us, my Lord Burgrave, one becomes merciful. So you shall hear how I, as
wise as the serpent, craftily forced this haughty knight"--she tapped
Heinz Schorlin's arm with her riding whip--"and you, too, Jungfrau
Ortlieb, whose pardon I now entreat, to help me win the bet. No offence,
noble sirs! But this bet was what compelled me to drag you all from
Kadolzburg and its charms so early, and induce you to attend me on the
reckless ride through the moonlit night. Now accept the thanks of a lady
whose heart is grateful; for your obedience helped me win the wager.
Look yonder at my handsome, submissive knight, Sir Heinz Schorlin, so
rich in every virtue. I commanded, him, on pain of my anger, to meet me