After breakfast Max and I were taken to the great hall, where we found
Castleman standing before the ducal throne, speaking to Charles. The
burgher turned toward us, and as we approached I heard him say:--
"My lord, these men are not spies."
"Who are they?" demanded the duke.
Castleman gave our names and told the story of our meeting at Basel,
after we had escorted Merchant Franz from Cannstadt. Then he narrated
Max's adventure at the moat bridge, closing with:--
"Count Calli grossly insulted Fraeulein Castleman, for which Sir Max
chastised him; and no doubt, my lord, this arrest has been made
for revenge."
"Has the younger man name or title other than you have given?" asked
Charles.
The burgher hesitated before he answered:--
"He has, my lord, though I may not disclose it to Your Grace without his
permission, unless you order me so to do upon my fealty. That I humbly
beg Your Grace not to do."
"I beg Your Grace not to ask me to disclose my identity at this time,"
said Max. "I am willing, should you insist upon knowing who I am, to
tell it privately in Your Grace's ear; but I am travelling incognito
with my friend, Sir Karl de Pitti, and I beg that I may remain so. My
estate is neither very great nor very small, but what it is I desire for
many reasons not to divulge. These reasons in no way touch Burgundy, and
I am sure Your Grace will not wish to intrude upon them. Within a month,
perhaps within a few days, I will enlighten you.
Pages:
167
168
169
170
171
172
173
174
175
176
177
178
179
180
181
182
183
184
185
186
187
188
189
190
191