Did the marriage turn out so badly?"

"No; I believe they lived happily ever after; but the ascent was so
cliff-like that mountain sprites are supposed to have given their
assistance."

"How much farther is Assmannshausen?"

"Less than two leagues. We will stop there and refresh ourselves. Are
you tired?"

"Oh no; not in the least. I merely wish the ordeal was past."

"You are a brave girl, Hildegunde."

"I am anything but that, Guardian. Still, do not fear I shall flinch."

After partaking of the midday meal at Assmannshausen, the Countess
proposed that they should leave their horses in the stable, and walk the
short third of a league to Ehrenfels, and to this her guardian agreed.

He found more difficulty with the custodian than had been expected. The
man objected, trembling. Without a written order from his master he dare
not allow any one to visit the prisoner. He would be delighted to oblige
his Lordship of Cologne, but he was merely a poor wretch who had no
option in the matter.

"Very well," said Cologne. "I have just come from your master, who is
stopping with my brother Treves at Stolzenfels. If you persist I must
then request lodgings from you until such time as a speedy messenger can
bring your master hither. This journey may cause him great
inconvenience, and should such be the case, I fear you will fare ill
with him."

"That may be, my Lord, but I must do my duty."

"Are you sure you have already done it on all occasions?" asked the
Archbishop severely.

The man's face became ghastly in its pallor.

"I don't know what you mean, my Lord."

"Then I will quickly tell you what I mean. It is rumored that Prince
Roland has been seen on the streets of Frankfort."

"How--how could that be, my Lord?"

"That is exactly what I wish to know. I believe the Prince is not in
your custody."

"I assure you, my Lord," said the now thoroughly frightened man, "that
his Highness is in his room."

"Very well; then conduct this lady thither. Although she does not know
the Prince, a relative of hers who does asserts that he met his Highness
in Frankfort. I said this was impossible if you had done that duty you
prate so much about. The lady merely wishes to ask him for some
explanation of this affair, so make your choice. Shall she go up with
you now, or must I send for the other two Archbishops?"

There was but one comforting phrase in this remark, namely, that the
lady did not know the Prince. Still, it w