This eBook was produced by David Widger <widger@cecomet.net>
By Georg Ebers
The vesper bells had already died away, yet Heinz was still listeningeagerly to the aged Minorite, who was now relating the story of St.Francis, his breach with everything that he loved, and the sorrowfulcommencement of his life. The monk could have desired no more attentiveauditor. Only the young knight often looked out of the window in searchof Biberli, who had not yet returned.
The latter had gone to the Ortlieb mansion with Katterle.
The runaway maid, whose disappearance, at old Martsche's earnest request,had already been "cried" in the city, had no cause to complain of herreception; for the housekeeper and the other servants, who knew nothingof her guilt, greeted her as a favourite companion whom they had greatlymissed, and Biberli had taken care that she was provided with answers tothe questions of the inquisitive. The story which he had invented beganwith the false report that a fire had broken out in the fortress. Thishad startled Katterle, and attracted her to the citadel to aid hercountrywoman and her little daughter. Then came the statement that shespent the night there, and lastly the tale that in the morning she wasdetained in the Swiss warder's quarters by a gentleman of rank—perhapsthe Burgrave himself—who, after he had learned who she was, wished togive her some important papers for Herr Ernst Ortlieb. She had waitedhours for them and finally, on the way home, chanced to meet Biberli.
At first the maid found it difficult to repeat this patchwork of truthand fiction in proper order, but the ex-schoolmaster impressed it sofirmly on his sweetheart's mind that at last it flowed from her lips asfluently as his pupils in Stanstadt had recited the alphabet.
So she became among the other servants the heroine of an innocentadventure whose truth no one doubted, least of all the housekeeper, whofelt a maternal affection for her. Some time elapsed ere she could reachthe Es; they were still with their mother, who was so ill that the leechOtto left the sick-room shaking his head.
As soon as he had gone Biberli stopped Els, who had accompanied thephysician outside the door of the sufferer's chamber, and earnestlyentreated her to forgive him and Katterle—who stood at his side withdrooping head, holding her apron to her eyes and persuade her father alsoto let mercy take the place of justice.
But kind-hearted Els proved sterner than the maid had ever seen her.
As her mother had been as well as usual when she woke, they had told herof the events of the previous night. Her father was very considerate,and even kept back many incidents, but the invalid was too weak for sounexpected and startling a communication. She was well aware of herexcitable daughter's passionate nature; but she had never expected thather little "saint," the future bride of Heaven, would be so quickly firedwith earthly love, especially for a stranger knight. Moreover, theconduct of Eva who, though she entreated her forgiveness, by no meansshowed herself contritely ready to resign her lover, had given her somuch food for thought that she could not find the rest her frail bodyrequired.
Soon after these disclosures she was again attacked with convulsions,and Els thought of them and the fact that they were caused by Eva'simprudence, instigated by the maid, when she refused Biber