ing."

"I thank you," said Albert; "and esteem it a great honour, if you have
put yourself out of your way on my account."

"Honour to whom honour is due! you are the pattern and crown of our
young knighthood! Truly, you who have stood by my master so faithfully
in his necessity and dangers have a claim to my most inward thanks, and
my particular respect."

"You might have bought your compliments much cheaper had you joined us
at Moempelgard," replied Albert, who was offended by the adulation of
the flatterer. "There is no necessity to speak of fidelity; it were
better to reprove the want of it."

A momentary ray of anger shot from the green-eyed chancellor, but he
soon regained his fawning manner. "To be sure, I am of the same
opinion. For my part, I was so crippled with gout, I could not travel
to Moempelgard; but now, what little power heaven has left me shall be
devoted with redoubled zeal to the Duke's service."

He paused a moment, expecting an answer; but Albert was silent, and
eyed him with a glance which he did not well know how to interpret.
"Well, but you will now be able to enjoy your prosperity," continued
the chancellor; "of course it is nothing more than you deserve, and the
Duke has well chosen his favourite. Will you allow Ambrosius Bolland
also to acknowledge his sense of your services? Are you an amateur of
curious arms? Come to my dwelling in the market-place, and choose what
most pleases you out of my armoury. If you are a lover of rare books, I
have a whole chest full, much at your disposal, and pray select any you
may fancy, as is the custom among friends. Come and dine with me
sometimes; my niece keeps house for me, a pretty girl of seventeen
years; only I must beg of you--hi! hi! hi!--not to look at her too
close."

"Don't be afraid; I am already engaged."

"So? ah, that's acting like a Christian; it's very praiseworthy. It is
not always that we find such virtue among the youth of the present day.
I was quite certain that Sturmfeder was a pattern of virtue. But what I
wanted to say was, that we--being the only two as yet who compose the
Duke's court--we must keep together, and not allow any one to be
appointed without our consent. Do you understand me? hi! hi!--one hand
washes the other. But we can talk over that some other time. You will
honour me with a visit sometimes?"

"When my time will allow me, Chancellor Ambrosius Bolland."

"I would willingly remain longer in your society, f