“His Lordship of Mayence, my dear, is in a dilemma from which no one except yourself can extricate him.”
“His own cleverness will extricate him.”
“Perhaps. Still, I’m not troubling about him. My thoughts are much too selfish for that. I wish you to lift me from my uncertainty.”
“You mean about Prince Roland? I shall do whatever you ask of me.”
“I place no command, but I proffer a suggestion.”
“It shall be a command, nevertheless.”
“We have left your own prison far behind, and are approaching that of Prince Roland. To the door of that detaining Castle I propose to lead you. I am forbidden by my compact with the other Electors to see Prince Roland or to hold any communication with him. The custodian of the Castle, who knows me well, will not refuse any request I make, even if I ask to see the young man himself. He will therefore not hesitate to admit you when I require him to do so. To take away any taint of surreptitiousness about my action, interfering, as one might say, with another man’s house, I shall this evening write to the Archbishop of Mayence, tell him exactly what I have done, and why.”
“Do you intend, then, that I should see Prince Roland and talk with him?”
“Yes.”
“My dear Guardian!” cried the girl, her face flushing red, “what on earth can I say to him? How am I to excuse my intrusion?”