“Very well; let them be taken to the prison. I will visit them later in the day.”
As Wilhelm, thoroughly fatigued after a night so exciting, walked the streets of Frankfort toward his home the bells of the city suddenly began to ring a merry peal, and, as if Frankfort had become awakened by the musical clangor, windows were raised and doors opened, while citizens inquired of each other the meaning of the clangor, a question which no one seemed prepared to answer.
Reaching his own house, Wilhelm found Elsa awaiting him with less of anxiety on her face than he had expected.
“Oh, Wilhelm!” she cried, “what a fright you gave me, and not until I knew where you were, did any peace come to my heart.”
“You knew where I was?” said Wilhelm in amazement. “Where was I, then?”
“You were with the Emperor, of course. That is why the bells are ringing; the Emperor has returned, as you know, and is resolved to take his proper place at the head of the state, much to the delight of the Empress, I can assure you. But what an anxious time we spent until shortly after midnight, when the Emperor arrived and told us you had been with him.”
“How came you to be at the Palace?”
“It happened in this way. You had hardly left the court last night when his lordship the Archbishop of Cologne came and seemed anxious about the welfare of the Emperor.”
“The Archbishop of Cologne! Is he still there or did he go elsewhere?”
“He is still there, and was there when the Emperor came in. Why do you ask so eagerly? Is there anything wrong?”