hat case the matter will be cleared up. And you have
no idea of the contents of these papers?"

"I heard the names Transylvania, and that of the Woywode mentioned
several times, but the secrets of these vulgar men did not seem to me
worth listening to."

Erastus shook his head thoughtfully. "They wished to emigrate, so said
Sylvan.... To Transylvania, therefore to the Unitarians, Sylvan's old
idea. That may turn out badly," and he became buried in deep thought.

Lydia was not so easily appeased as her father. Her woman's instinct
told her that Paul was guilty. That said by the prisoners agreed but
too well with what she knew of the cowled monk, of his efforts for
papistry, of his secret masses and _exercitia_, and with what the good
Abbess had said to her. It was clear he was the same man to-day that he
had ever been, and the heartless monk had wished to carry on a bold
game with her. Angrily rejecting any attempted approach made by Paul
she walked on hastily before them. Thus even the Magister was pleased
when they separated at the head of the Bridge.

When father and daughter entered the town they found it in a state of
great excitement. "They wanted to make Turks of us," called out an old
woman as she descended the steps of the Heiligengeist. "They would
betray the empire to the Sultan! The Church Counsellor has just told us
so from the pulpit!"

"Speak no nonsense, Quadin," called out a lusty citizen. "Parson
Neuser was an honorable man, and I preferred his red nose to all the
pale-faced men, who gave themselves no rest, till they have wrought his
destruction."

"What has happened to Parson Neuser," asked Erastus of the speaker.

"Do you not know, Sir Counsellor?" rejoined Neuser's advocate.
"Magistrate Hartmann Hartmanni received the order of the Kurfuerst to
arrest him, but the Magistrate tarried too long at the gaming-table,
and by the time he had said something pretty to all the waitresses the
black bird was over the hills. His wife lied in saying he was only gone
out, but in searching the house they found burnt papers and a packed up
knapsack; his money he must have taken with him, for not a single penny
was to be found. He is away leaving wife and child, and mounted men are
searching for him along the roads."

"The Church Counsellor says he wanted to hand the empire over to the
Turks," cried out the old woman once more.

"Parson Neuser?" said Erastus laughing, "on that score you can sleep in
peace,