with haughty superiority: "There is but one decision here, if the
morality of this noble city is to be preserved and the maiden daughters
of her patrician families secured henceforward from the misfortune of
being a plaything for the wanton levity of reckless heart breakers. But
this decision, on which I firmly and resolutely insist, as lady and
princess, in the name of my whole sex and of all knightly men who, with
me, prize the reverence and inviolable fidelity due a lady, is: Sir Heinz
Schorlin must ask the honourable gentleman who, with full justice,
brought this complaint to your imperial Majesty, for his daughter's hand
and, if the sorely injured maiden vouchsafes to accept it, lead her to
the marriage altar before God and the world."

"Spoken according to the feelings of my own heart," replied the Emperor
and, turning to the citizens of Nuremberg, he added: "So I ask you,
gentlemen, who are familiar with the laws and customs of this good city
and direct the administration of her justice, will such a marriage remove
the complaint made against Sir Heinz Schorlin and his servant?"

"It will," replied old Herr Berthold Vorchtel, gravely and firmly.

Herr Pfinzing also assented, it is true, but added earnestly that an
unfortunate meeting had caused another to suffer even more severely than
Eva from the knight's imprudence. This was her older sister, the
betrothed bride of young Eysvogel. For her sake, as well as to make the
bond between Sir Heinz Schorlin and the younger Jungfrau Ortlieb valid,
the father's consent was necessary. If his imperial Majesty desired to
bring to a beautiful end, that very day, the gracious work so
auspiciously commenced there was no obstacle in the way, for Ernst
Ortlieb was at the von Zollern Castle with the daughter who had been so
basely slandered.