"Yes; and of courts and battles."
"Did I speak of—did I use my own name, my title? Of course you know that I am not Herr Schmidt."
"Yes; many have said that."
"You heard my name, my title?"
"Yes; I heard them."
For a minute there was silence. Then Schmidt said: "There are reasons why it must be a secret—perhaps for years or always. I am Graf von Ehrenstein; but I am more than that—much more and few even in Germany know me by that name. And I did say so?"
"Yes, sir."
"It must die in your memory, my son, as the priests say of what is heard in confession."
This statement, which made clear a good deal of what De Courval had heard in the German's delirium, was less singular to him than it would have seemed to-day. More than one mysterious titled person of importance came to the city under an assumed name, and went away leaving no one the wiser.
"It is well," continued Schmidt, "that you, who are become so dear to me, should know my story. I shall make it brief."