—“Alas, my child,” said I, “you were probably deceived by some fancied resemblance!—But what must now be done? where is the messenger, who informed us yesterday of the fatal ambuscade?—Perhaps, he may be able to give us some insight into the author of this second attack.”—
—“Ah! would to God,” answered the old Seneschal, “that I had either examined that messenger more circumstantially, or at least had watched him closer! yet who could have imputed treachery to Dietrich, or suspect a man, who seemed to be at the point of death, of an intention to escape?”
—“To escape?” I exclaimed; “has Dietrich fled? when and how did this take place?”—
—“We were all busy in making preparations for binding up his wounds, of whose pain he complained bitterly, but which it seems none of us ever saw. We left him alone for a few moments, and in the meanwhile he disappeared. We sought him long, but he was not to be found; and we finished by conjecturing, that courage and fidelity had induced him to follow you in spite of his wounds, and to endeavour at contributing to his master’s rescue; though we doubted not from his apparently weak condition, that he must have died by the way.”—
—“And why should not your conjecture have been well-founded? Dietrich was ever one of Count Venosta’s most faithful servants.”—
The Seneschal assured me, that during the hostile attack which followed close on the heels of Dietrich’s disappearance, circumstances had occurred, which made him view the fellow’s escape in a very different light. He was proceeding to explain himself more clearly, when the sound of a trumpet threw us all into the most violent alarm! every one hastened to the place, where duty or inclination called them: the Warder ascended the watch-tower; my terrified damsels fled to conceal themselves; in the mean while, I and the little Minna descended to the lower battlements, in order to inform myself at once of the extent of my danger.
—“Almighty powers!” I exclaimed, on casting a fearful look on the plain before the fortress, which was now covered with warriors; “is it possible?—my uncle’s banner?—Count Ethelbert’s soldiers too!—surely this must be a dream!”—
Count Venosta now advanced before the rest, in order to answer in person the usual questions, which the Warder asked from the tower; but I had not patience enough to wait for the termination of this ceremony. The Castle-gates were thrown open; the draw-bridge was let down; and I already was clasped in the arms of my beloved uncle, ere I had yet convinced myself, that his delivery was real.
—“Yes! my dear child!” exclaimed Count Leopold, as soon as I had recovered myself from the first tumult of delight and astonishment; “yes! I am free, and knowest thou, to whom we are both indebted for life and all that we possess? ’tis to this hero, whose character I have so long mistaken, and from whom my suspicions have till now with-held the only gift, which is worthy to reward his merits!”—
—“What!” I replied—“Count Ethelbert? he, who was made prisoner at the same moment with yourself?”—