hand, and
had not yet found; fitting answer when the Emperor cried: "What am I to
think? Was the Duke of Pomerani; wrong when he told me of a heap of
gold----"

"No, Your Majesty," Heinz here interrupter without raising his eyes.
"What was left of the money would have more than sufficed to cover the
sum required----"

"I thought so!" exclaimed the sovereign with out letting him finish; "for
a young knight who like a great lord, bestows a fine estate upon the
pious Franciscans, certainly need only command his treasurer to open the
strong box----"

"You are mocking me, Your Majesty," Heinz quietly interposed. "You are
doubtless well aware whence the golden curse came to me. I thrust it
aside like noxious poison, and if I am reluctant to use it to buy, as it
were, what is dearest and most sacred to me, indeed it does not spring
from parsimony, for I had resolved to offer the two remaining purses to
the devout Sisters of St. Clare and the zealous Minorite Brothers, one of
the best of whom laboured earnestly for the salvation of my soul."

"That is right, my son," fell from the Emperor's lips in a tone of warm
approval. "If the gold benefits the holy poverty of these pious Brothers
and Sisters, the devil's gift may easily be transformed into a divine
blessing. You both--" he gazed affectionately at Heinz and Eva as he
spoke--"have, as it were, deserted the cloister, and owe it compensation.
But your depriving yourself of your golden treasure, my friend--for two
hundred silver marks are no trifle to a young knight--puts so different a
face upon this matter that--that----" Here he lowered his voice and
continued with affectionate mirthfulness--"that a friend must determine
to do what he can for him. True, my gallant Heinz, I see that your future
father-in-law, the other Nuremberg Honourables, and even your mother, are
ready to pay the sum; but he who is most indebted to you holds fast this
privilege, and that man am I, my brave champion! What you did for your
Emperor and his best work, the peace of the country, deserves a rich
reward and, thanks to the saints, I have something which will discharge
my debt. The Swabian fief of Reichenbach became vacant. It has a strong
citadel, from which we command you to maintain the peace of the country
and overthrow robber knights. This fief shall be yours. You can enjoy it
with your dear wife. It must belong to your children and children's
children forever; for that a Schorlin should