brother, lest he
should be branded as a rebel. Even Gilbert and Henry of Stramen were
crestfallen in the blight of all their budding hopes. Of all our Suabian
friends, Father Omehr was the only one who rejoiced in this amicable
termination of the council, and who devoutly returned thanks to God for
averting a direful war, and proclaiming, in the favorite language of
heaven, "_Pax fiat!_"

During two months and a half, Henry buried himself in solitude at Spire.
Rodolph remained watchful and expectant, now at Zurich, and now in
Saxony. All was calm in the lordships of Hers and Stramen. The Lady
Margaret was lamenting the absence of Father Omehr, who had been
summoned to Rome, and whose missionary duties were performed by the
pious Herman.

The year of grace was drawing to a close, and the proud baron began to
hope that the emperor would permit it to pass without observing the
stipulation in the treaty to repair to Rome and ask pardon of the Pope.
The new year had begun, and January was half over when the King of Arles
was startled with the intelligence that Henry had purchased from
Adelaide, the widow of the Margrave Otho, a free passage into Italy,
and, in spite of snow and ice, had crossed the Alps, and was approaching
the fortress of Canossa, whither Gregory had retired. At first it was
rumored that the monarch had gone to depose the Pope, and the Duke of
Suabia secretly exulted in the prospect of instant action. But it was
soon ascertained that Henry presented himself in the character of a
suppliant, and the result of his application was awaited with breathless
interest.

Early in the spring of 1077, toward the close of a cold, bright day,
Rodolph was seated in his palace at Zurich, surrounded by Albert of Hers
and Gilbert, on one side, and on the other, by Sandrit and Henry of
Stramen. This strange meeting, though unexpected and unwelcome to the
hostile knights, was designed by Rodolph, who thought that by thus
accustoming them to restrain their passions in his presence, and by
distinguishing them with equal confidence, aid praising both sides in
equal measure, he might control, in some degree, the antipathies he
could not entirely subdue. But the barons maintained a stern, unyielding
reserve, and Gilbert studiously avoided the disdainful gaze of Henry of
Stramen. The lamps were scarcely lighted when a messenger from Rome was
announced, and the next moment Father Omehr entered the room.

The nobles rose, and, g