"Ha! indeed! Drost Aagé," said the prince, in a scornful tone, "the preacher of our strict laws of chivalry, are ye carrying off two pretty maidens at once? I think you might content yourself with one--if I see aright, these fair ones are of a somewhat higher class than they care to pass for; speak, who are they?"
"The unfortunate daughters of Marsk Stig, noble junker!" answered Aagé; "I am escorting them, by the king's orders, as state prisoners, to Kallundborg."
"The viper brood of the regicide!" exclaimed the prince, while a dark crimson hue suddenly overspread his countenance. "Well! this is an excellent capture. Throw them into the subterranean dungeon; they shall never more see the light of day."
The younger sister shrieked in alarm at this wild threat, but the elder made a sign to her to be silent, and endeavoured to tranquillize her fears.
"They are to be treated with justice, and with all chivalrous deference and honour," answered Aagé, calmly; "such is my sovereign's will and express command, which I shall punctually obey."
"I am governor of Kallundborg, Drost!" called the prince, in wrath; "the state prisoners sent thither are under my control. Ride with them, Pallé! give my orders to the jailor! you are answerable for their being obeyed!" He now said a few words to one of his train, but in so low a tone as to be unheard by every one else, and then turned his horse, and rode back to his party. Each now pursued their separate road, but the knight who had received the prince's private orders joined Drost Aagé and his prisoners.
This unwelcome companion was a fat, short-necked personage, with a repulsive expression in his crimson-coloured full-moon visage. He was generally called the rich Sir Pallé, and made himself conspicuous by the costly, but not tasteful, splendour of his dress and riding accoutrements, which he prided himself on being able to compare in value with the king's. He sought by an affectation of youthful gaiety to conceal his age, which very closely bordered on fifty. He was still a bachelor, but was an unwearied wooer, and greatly desired to pass for a doughty knight, and an irresistible invader of the hearts of the fair of every rank. He was not liked by the king, but was a hanger-on of Prince Christopher, to whom he was appointed gentleman of the bed-chamber. He was in bad repute among the lower class, on account of several adventures, little creditable to himself, which were circulated throughout the country in satirical ballads. He rode for some time in silence by Drost Aagé's side, apparently annoyed at being despatched on this unlooked-for errand. Aagé was silent also, and pursued the journey without noticing him.
"My presence is troublesome to you, perhaps, Sir Drost!" exclaimed Pallé, at last breaking silence. "This mission is not to my taste either. The prince was in his stern mood to-day; when that is the case he will not bear contradiction, or I should gladly have begged to decline the journey. Where you act in the king's name, I well know that I, as the junker's deputy, might just as well be absent."
"Truly, I think so likewise, Sir Pallé!" answered Aagé, in a tone of indifference, as he quickened his horse's pace.
"It is all one to me whether your captives receive hard or gentle treatment," continued Sir Pallé; "but if I bring not my lord's commands to the jailor at Kallundborg, you see yourself, I shall draw down the junker's wrath upon me, and that I have no mind to do for the sake of a couple of vagabonds."