t
Gerbert dropped his eyes in confusion. A moment later the prior broke
the seal and hastily scanned the letter.

"Who mayest thou be, youth?" he asked abruptly.

"Gerbert von Isenburg, sir."

"And thy mother?"

"Guba von Isenburg," was the astonished Gerbert's reply.

The prior seemed to be struggling with deep emotion.

"Knowest thou the purport of this missive?" he said at last.

"It concerns me not," answered Gerbert simply.

"Nay, my son," said the prior, "it doth concern thee, and deeply, too.
Know that it is thy death-warrant, boy! The Freiherr has requested me to
send thee to the wars in Palestine, and so to place thee that death will
be a certainty. This he asks in the name of our ancient friendship
and for the sake of our order, to which he has ever shown himself well
disposed."

Seeing the dismay and incredulity which were depicted in his listener's
face, the prior hastened to read aloud a passage describing von
Metternich's discovery of his daughter's love for the humble squire, and
Gerbert could no longer doubt that his fate was sealed.

The prior looked at him kindly.

"Gerbert," he said, "I am not going to put the cruel order into
execution. Though I lose friendship, the honour of our order, life
itself, the son of Guba von Isenburg shall not suffer at my hands.
I sympathize with thy passion for the fair Ida. I myself loved thy
mother." The impetuous Gerbert started to his feet, hand on sword, at
the mention of his mother, whose good name he set before all else; but
with a dignified gesture the prior motioned him to his seat.

Then in terse, passionate phrases the elder man told how he had loved
the gentle Guba for years, always hesitating to declare his passion lest
the lady should scorn him. At length he could bear it no longer, and
made up his mind to reveal his love to her. With this intent he rode
toward her home, only to learn from a passing page that Guba, his
mistress, was to be married that very day to von Isenburg. He gave to
the page a ring, bidding him carry it to his mistress with the message
that it was from one who loved her greatly, and who for her sake
renounced the world. "The ring," he concluded, "is on thy finger, and in
thy face and voice are thy mother's likeness. Canst thou wonder that I
would spare thy life?"

Gerbert listened in respectful silence. His love for Ida enabled him
to sympathize with the pathetic tale unfolded by the prior. Tears fell
unchecked from th