“What could be done?” asked Ebbo.
“Fire some Schlangenwald hamlet, and teach him to respect yours,” said the knight.
“The poor serfs are guiltless.”
“Ha! ha! as if they would not rob any of yours. Give and take, that’s the way the empire wags, Sir Baron. Send him a feud letter in return, with a goodly file of names at its foot, and teach him to respect you.”
“But I have sworn to abstain from fist-right.”
“Much you gain by so abstaining. If the League will not take the trouble to right you, right yourself.”
“I shall appeal to the Emperor, and tell him how his League is administered.”
“Young sir, if the Emperor were to guard every cow in his domains he would have enough to do. You will never prosper with him without some one to back your cause better than that free tongue of yours. Hast no sister that thou couldst give in marriage to a stout baron that could aid you with strong arm and prudent head?”
“I have only one twin brother.”
“Ah! the twins of Adlerstein! I remember me. Was not the other Adlerstein seeking an alliance with your lady mother? Sure no better aid could be found. He is hand and glove with young King Max.”