"Betrothal! yes, if you please each other," said the Duke.
"He will certainly please her." said Haduwalt, clapping the blushing youth on the shoulder; "and I hope," whispered he quietly in his ear, "that she, the beauty whom thou mayest love, will right well please thee."
"Choose now," continued the Duke, "what thou wilt of the booty. To you Alemanni, to thee above all, do we owe the victory."
"I will follow thee," said Liuthari, rising hastily. "Help me, old friend!"
The armour-master helped him to buckle on his breastplate; the young man raised the beautifully-shaped Roman helmet with the towering heron's plume to his head. Magnificent stood the king's son, his joyful countenance radiant with the noblest sentiments.
"Oh, now all is well," rejoiced Fulvius. "The Tribune is slain; Zeno the usurer is dead, murdered by an unknown hand, without doubt by his slaves, so Johannes tells me. There is no longer an Emperor in Ravenna; we were assured of this yesterday morning by this young hero. Now am I free from all debts to the Fiscus."
"And no less do I assure thee," laughed Liuthari, "that this powerful Duke here has stepped into the Emperor's place--his debtor art thou now."
Fulvius anxiously put his hand to his right ear, and looked dismayed at the mighty man.
"Fear not," continued Liuthari. "I ask, Duke Garibrand, as a part of my share of the booty, this villa and the land belonging to it. And free from all debt."
"It shall be as thou hast said," answered the Bajuvaren.