rothed lover's ring.
It should be mine if I succeeded in leading her to commit such an
abominable deed. But I was content, if I won the wager, with a smaller
forfeit; yet now that I have gained it, Jungfrau Ortlieb, you must pay!"

The whole company listened in astonishment to this speech, which no
one understood, but the countess, nodding mischievously to her nearest
neighbours, went on:

"How bewildered you all look! It might tempt me to satisfy your
curiosity less speedily, but, after the delightful entertainment you
gave us, my Lord Burgrave, one becomes merciful. So you shall hear how
I, as wise as the serpent, craftily forced this haughty knight"--she
tapped Heinz Schorlin's arm with her riding whip--"and you, too,
Jungfrau Ortlieb, whose pardon I now entreat, to help me win the bet. No
offence, noble sirs! But this bet was what compelled me to drag you all
from Kadolzburg and its charms so early, and induce you to attend me on
the reckless ride through the moonlit night. Now accept the thanks of
a lady whose heart is grateful; for your obedience helped me win
the wager. Look yonder at my handsome, submissive knight, Sir Heinz
Schorlin, so rich in every virtue. I commanded, him, on pain of my
anger, to meet me at midnight at the entrance of our quarters--that is,
the entry of the Ortlieb mansion; and to this modest and happy betrothed
bride (may she pardon the madcap!) I represented how it troubled me and
wounded my timid delicacy to enter so late at night, accompanied only
by gentlemen, the house which so hospitably sheltered us, and go to my
sleeping room, though I should not fear the Sultan and his mamelukes,
if with this in my hand"--she motioned to her riding whip--"and my dear
father at my side, I stood on my own feet which, though by no means
small, are well-shod and resolute. Yet, as we are apt to measure others
by our own standard, the timid, decorous girl believed me, and poor
Cordula, who indeed brought only her maids and no female guardian, and
therefore must dispense with being received on her return by a lady
capable of commanding respect, did not appeal in vain to the charitable
feelings of her beautiful housemate. She promised faithfully to come
down into the entry, when the horses approached, to receive the poor
lamb, surrounded by lynxes, wild-cats, foxes, and wolves, and lead it
into the safe fold--if one can call this stately house by such a name.
Both Sir Heinz Schorlin and Jungfrau Elizabeth