CHAPTER XIII. THE BLACK COUNT IS PERSUADED NOT TO HANG HIS EMPEROR.
The Emperor, when his dripping charger climbed the incline before Alken, looked with concern toward the troop of horse drawn up facing the river, wondering whether or no Heinrich himself was there to greet them. The leader of this scant cavalry sat on his steed a horse-length in advance of his men, and was rather startlingly red than black. His hair and beard were fiery crimson in colour, while the face they framed was of a similar hue, scarcely less violent, although it deadened somewhat as it reached the nose, and painted that well developed and prominent organ a rich deep purple, giving evidence, Rodolph thought, of the potency of Heinrich's liquors. The man's eyes were shifty and suspicious, and, all in all, his face was as forbidding as one would care to see, bringing to life the conjecture which had more than once crossed the young man's mind, that in thus unceremoniously changing guardians the Countess had scarcely bettered herself. However, he still had hopes that this crafty-looking horseman was not the uncle, from whom he expected violence perhaps, but not treachery.
The Emperor advanced and saluted the red warrior, who remained motionless upon his horse, bestowing an inquiring but none too friendly glance upon the approaching stranger.
"I would have speech with Count Heinrich, of Thuron," said Rodolph.
"Then you must seek him in his castle," was the reply, which brought a sigh of relief to the lips of the Emperor.
"Whom have I the honour of addressing?" he asked.
"I am Steinmetz, Captain of Castle Thuron. Who are you?"
"My name is Rodolph, a Lord of Frankfort, and I desire convoy to the castle."