“Thou hast lived a beautiful life,” he said. “Have I not heard how it has gone out in gracious, loving deeds until hundreds adore thy very name!”
A deep flush mounted in Katrina’s cheeks.
“But thou, Fritz, hast done and seen wonderful things. Even in our seclusion word has reached us of thy vast knowledge. It must be splendid to be known far and near as one who possesses such great wisdom.”
“Ah, Katrina, what have I not sacrificed in that search! Home, friends, those I held closest to my heart,—all were put aside in my eagerness to find the greatest treasure. But thou dost not know, Katrina, what was the impulse that sent me forth.”
At this Katrina shook her head.
“Dost thou not remember the ‘voice’ which used to tell us stories of the castle?”
“Yes;” and as she answered, the woman’s face glowed with the memories of childhood.
“Well,” said Fritz, his eyes meeting her astonished gaze, “I never told thee this; it was a secret I carried with me. One evening I came alone, and sat here in the courtyard, for I wished to try and discover something.”
“I know, I know,” she interposed, “it was one evening when I felt sure I heard thy footstep on the gravel.”
“Yes,” Fritz answered smiling, “and thou didst say next morning that it must have been a ghost. Not only did I wish to hear the voice again, but I felt a keen desire to ask what it meant by the greatest of all treasures. And it was then that I discovered it to be the Ivy speaking,—yes, that old vine yonder on the wall. In answer to my query, it assured me that of all the treasures of the world knowledge is the greatest. From that moment I was consumed with one overwhelming purpose,—the determination to search until I found the greatest treasure.”