at midnight at the entrance of our quarters--that is, the entry of the
Ortlieb mansion; and to this modest and happy betrothed bride (may she
pardon the madcap!) I represented how it troubled me and wounded my timid
delicacy to enter so late at night, accompanied only by gentlemen, the
house which so hospitably sheltered us, and go to my sleeping room,
though I should not fear the Sultan and his mamelukes, if with this in my
hand"--she motioned to her riding whip--"and my dear father at my side,
I stood on my own feet which, though by no means small, are well-shod and
resolute. Yet, as we are apt to measure others by our own standard, the
timid, decorous girl believed me, and poor Cordula, who indeed brought
only her maids and no female guardian, and therefore must dispense with
being received on her return by a lady capable of commanding respect, did
not appeal in vain to the charitable feelings of her beautiful housemate.
She promised faithfully to come down into the entry, when the horses
approached, to receive the poor lamb, surrounded by lynxes, wild-cats,
foxes, and wolves, and lead it into the safe fold--if one can call this
stately house by such a name. Both Sir Heinz Schorlin and Jungfrau
Elizabeth Ortlieb kept their word and joined each other here--to their
extreme amazement, I should suppose, as to my knowledge they never met
before--to receive me, and thus had an interview which, however loudly
they may contradict it, I call a nocturnal meeting. But my wager, fair
child, is won, and tomorrow you will deliver to me the exquisite carved
ivory casket, while I shall keep my bracelet."

Here she paused, paying no heed to the merry threats, exclamations of
amazement, and laughter of her companions.

But while her father, striking his broad chest, cried again and again,
with rapturous delight, "A paragon of a woman!" and Seitz Siebenburg,
in bitter disappointment, whispered, "The fourteen saintly helpers in