almost forced, after her
treacherous deed, to pursue Herdegen to his death; what could she look
for if he ever came home again? Come what might then, and were it the
worst, I must set out, and that forthwith, even if I found no fellowship
but Cousin Maud and Eppelein. And to this purpose I had come, when at
last the door was opened.

Below stairs nought was stirring. I hastily flung my wet mantle to Mario,
the deaf-mute, who had let me in, and ran up stairs. Hardly had I reached
the second floor when Ann met me, well and of good cheer; and when I
began, in the outer chamber, to beseech her to be no less steadfast than
I was in departing for the East, she nodded consent, and pointed the way
into the inner chamber, where we might be more at our ease. I was amazed
to see her in such good heart, and all the more so when she told me that
my lord Cardinal had come home that morning.

There was above stairs, she hastily told me, a noble Italian Knight, who
had desired to see our pictures; so we went into the guest chamber, which
was all lighted up as when company was bidden. Nay, it was of such festal
aspect as well nigh dazzled me, and I discerned at once that my portrait,
which only a few days ago had been hanged on the wall by the side of
Ann's for my lord Cardinal, was now placed on two chairs and leaning
against the high backs.

All this and more I perceived in a few hasty glances, and when I enquired
where might this stranger from Italy be, I was told that he had gone with
Master Pernhart into the chamber which had been fitted for his Eminence
with the magnificent stuffs from Rome and Florence which he had brought
as a gift for his old mother. The finest of these were certain hangings
of fine tissue and of many colors, which hung over the wide opening
between the great guest chamber and that next to it. And the Italian must
likewise have seen these, inasmuch as that they hung down, whereas they
were wont to be drawn to the sides. Behind them, all was dark; thus the
Master and his wife, with their strange guest, must have withdrawn into
the chamber at the back of the house, where the Cardinal had loved to
work, and wherein there were sundry works of art to be seen, and choice
Greek manuscripts which he had brought with him to show to the learned
doctors in his native town; as being rare and precious.

None was here save the old grandam, and her countenance beamed with joy
as she held out her hands to me from her arm-c