ss Rotterbach cut him short by exclaiming with a loud chuckle:
"The unripe early pears will probably come from the fruit market to
the housewife's hands later; the roses found their way to Countess von
Montfort more quickly."

The malicious words were followed like an echo by Frau Rosalinde's
tearful "It is only too true. This also!"

The knight, unheeding the angry, upbraiding woman, hastened in pursuit
of his wife to throw himself at her feet and confess the whole truth;
but she, who had heard long before that Sir Seitz was paying Countess
Cordula more conspicuous attention than beseemed a faithful husband, and
who, after the happy hour so recently experienced, had expected, until
the arrival of the page, the dawn of brighter, better days, now felt
doubly abased, deceived, betrayed.

Without vouchsafing the unfortunate man even a glance or a word, she
entered the nursery before he reached her; but he, feeling that he must
follow her at any cost, laid his hand on the lock of the door and tried
to open it. The strong oak resisted his shaking and pulling. Isabella
had shot the heavy iron bolt into its place. Seitz first knocked with
his fingers and then with his clenched fist, until the grandmother
exclaimed: "You have destroyed the house, at least spare the doors."

Uttering a fierce imprecation, he went to his own chamber, hastily
thrust into his pockets all the gold and valuables which he possessed,
and then went out again into the street. His way led him past Kuni, the
flower girl from whom he had bought the roses. The beggar who was
to carry them to his wife did not hear distinctly, on account of her
bandaged head, and not understanding the knight, went to the girl from
whom she had seen him purchase the blossoms to ask where they belonged.
Kuni pointed to the lodgings of the von Montforts, where she had
already sent so many bouquets for Siebenburg. The latter saw both the
flower-seller and the beggar woman, but did not attempt to learn how the
roses which he intended for his wife had reached Countess Cordula. He
suspected the truth, but felt no desire to have it confirmed. Fate meant
to destroy him, he had learned that. The means employed mattered little.
It would have been folly to strive against the superior power of such an
adversary. Let ruin pursue its course. His sole wish was to forget his
misery, though but for a brief time. He knew he could accomplish this
by drink, so he entered the Mirror wine tavern