ose who are near of kin, hath not likewise the power to hinder a young
and blooming maid from binding herself for life to a sickly husband. Such
discourse was ill-pleasing by reason of the Bohemian's presence there:
and the Junker went yet further, till to some speech made by old Master
Grolaud, he made answer by asking what then might be a priest's duty, if
the sick bridegroom failed to say "yes" at the altar by reason of his
coughing? And as he spoke he cast a challenging look at Welemisl.

The hot blood of the Bohemian flew to his brain; or ever any one could
hinder him, his knife was buried to the hilt in the other's shoulder. All
hastened to help the Brandenburger, and when presently some turned to
seize the criminal he was no more to be seen.

This dreadful deed caused just dismay, and most of all at Court, inasmuch
as the chamberlain and the maid of honor in close attendance on their
Majesties' persons were near kin to the Bohemian, whose mother was of the
noble Hungarian house of Pereny.

As to the Emperor, he flew into great fury and threatened to cancel the
murderer's coat of arms and punish him with death. Never within the peace
of his realm, nay and under his very eyes, had so much noble blood been
shed in base brawling as here in our sober city, and he would forthwith
make an example of the guilty men. He would make young Schopper pay some
penalty yet more than a mere fine, to that he pledged his royal word, and
as for young Welemisl, he was minded to devise some punishment that
should hinder many an over-bold knight from drawing his sword! And he
commanded that not only his own constables and men-at-arms, but likewise
the town bailiffs, should forthwith seek and take both those young men.

Only two days later Sir Franz was brought in by the city watch; he had
dressed himself in the garments of a waggoner, but had betrayed himself
in a tavern at Schwabach by his coughing. Howbeit his Majesty had by this
time come to another mind; nay, Queen Barbara left him less peace than
even the court-folks, for indeed her father, Count Cilly, was near of kin
to the Perenys, and through them to the Welemisl.

The Emperor Sigismund was a noble-minded and easy-living prince, who
once, when forty thousand ducats had been poured into his ever-empty
treasure chest, divided it forthwith among his friends, saying: "Now
shall I sleep well, for that which broke my rest you bear away with you."
And this light-hearted man, who w