"Well," put in Alt Pikker, "at all events, he hath married the Princess. Or she has married him, which is the same thing!"
"But why? We knew nothing of this! He told us nothing. We thought he went for our lady's sake to Courtland! Why did he marry her?" cried severally Von Orseln and the Plassenburg captains.
"Why?" said Theresa the mother, with assurance. "Because he loved her doubtless. How? Because he was his father's son!"
And Theresa being calm and stilling the others, Alt Pikker got time to tell his tale. There was silence in the grange of Isle Rugen while it was being told, and even when it was ended for a space none spoke. But Theresa smiled well pleased and said in her heart, "I thank God! My son also shall meet Henry the Lion face to face and not be ashamed."
After that they made their plans.
"I will go," said Conrad, "for I have influence with my brother—or, if not with him, at least with the folk of Courtland. We will stop this heathenish abomination."
"I will go," said Theresa, "because he is my son. God will show me a way to help him."
"We will all go," chorussed the captains; "that is—all save Werner——"
"All except Boris——!"
"All except Jorian——!"