A shrill blast of a bugle sounded at the castle gate.
"The duke! the duke!" exclaimed the Lady Margaret, throwing her arms around her father's neck.
The mace was still uplifted, the priest was still before it, Gilbert was still pinioned by the men of Stramen, and all was silent as the tomb, when Rodolph and Henry entered the room.
"Did you listen to that minion, Margaret?" said the baron to his daughter, without seeming to notice the presence of the duke.
"It is because she gave me no hope," interposed Gilbert, "that I am indifferent to your anger."
Rodolph, perceiving the difficulty at a glance, put his arm in his angry baron's and led him aside, while Henry advanced to his sister. After a long and vehement discussion, the King of Arles left the knight standing with his arms folded on his breast and his back to the group, and released Gilbert from the close grasp of his captors.
"Come with me," he said, in a whisper.
"Where?" inquired Gilbert.
"To the other side of the drawbridge?"
"But—I cannot leave Humbert," said the youth, pointing to the frightened minnesinger.