o depart
from him, he had sent his serving-man to bid Master Holzschuher, the
notary, to come to him, and to bring with him two trustworthy witnesses
duly sworn to secrecy. As he bid her farewell he had laughed, and
whispered to her that his Eminence the Cardinal would be well-content
with old Im Hoff, yea, and she likewise, and her lover.

All this gave us matter for thought, and also gave us good heart; only it
weighed upon our souls that our departing was not to be yet for some
weeks.

CHAPTER XIII.

Next morning Cousin Maud let me see in a right pleasant way how truly she
was in earnest in the matter of thrift henceforth; she would take but one
small pat of butter from the country wench who brought it, she sent away
the butcher's man and would have no flesh meat, and at breakfast she
abstained from butter on her bread, as she was wont to eat it. Likewise
the chain and the great gold pin which she ever wore from morning till
night, flashing on her bosom like a watchman's lantern, were now laid
aside, and while I was eating my porridge she showed me the coffer
wherein she had bestowed all she possessed of rings, pins, and the like,
which she would presently take to the weigh-house to be weighed and then
to a goldsmith to be valued. Howbeit, when I was fain to do likewise with
my jewels she would not have it so, inasmuch as youth, quoth she, needed
such bravery, and first we must learn how great a portion of the ransom
my grand-uncle would take upon himself to pay.

Hereupon, in fulfilment of my purpose yestereve, I made it my hard duty
to carry the evil tidings to the old baron, and humbly to remind him of
his promise to take care for Herdegen's ransom. It was raining heavily,
and a wet west wind whistled along the miry streets. It was weariful to
wade through them, and when at last I reached the Im Hoff house Master
Ulsenius called to me down the stairs: "Silence, Mistress Margery; there
is worse weather in here than without doors!"

Thus as I went into the overheated chamber, I saw there was no good to be
hoped for: yet were matters worse than I had looked to find them. So soon
as my grand-uncle set eyes on me he frowned darkly, his hollow eyes had
an angry glare and, without answering my good-day, he croaked at me: "You
hoped that the old man might have passed away into eternity or ever you
set forth on your wild adventure? Hah, hah But you are mistaken. I shall
yet be granted time enough to show you who