Part 9 (1/2)

”Against me?” said Albert; ”you must have misunderstood her. Who, and what can any one have to say about me?”

”Ah, there you ask me more than I can answer,” replied the other; ”but, if I dare guess, I believe the League has an eye upon you. The lady added also, that her father had spoken about it. I saw Fronsberg nod to you to-day, and honour you like the Emperor's son, to the astonishment of every one present. Believe me, there is something in the wind, when such a man beckons in so friendly a manner to another.”

Albert was surprised at the plain remark of the simple countryman. He recollected, however, that Bertha's father, having pryed deeply into the secrets of the leaders of the League, might have heard something, which more immediately concerned him; but, whichever way he turned his thoughts, he could discover no ground upon which Bertha's mysterious warning could be founded. His mind was torn with doubt and conjecture; and he abruptly asked the messenger, how he had found him out so soon?

”Without Fronsberg's aid, it had not been such an easy matter,” said he: ”I was desired to inquire for you at Dieterick von Kraft's house.

But as I was entering the gate of the town, I saw a large crowd of people in the field. I thought half an hour would make no great difference, so I joined the spectators to see the infantry exercise.

Really, Fronsberg has done wonders. Well; it struck me I heard your name mentioned. I looked round, and saw three old men talking about you, and pointing to you. I noticed your figure, and followed your steps; but not certain if I was quite right, I put the enigma of Sturm and Licht to you.”

”You have acted cleverly,” said Albert, smiling; ”but come to my house, and get something to eat. When do you go home again?”

Hans considered a moment; at last, he said, with a cunning smile on his mouth, ”No offence, sir; but I have pledged myself to the young lady, not to quit you before you have taken your leave of the League.”

”And then?” asked Albert.

”And then I go direct to Lichtenstein, to give her good news from you.

How she longs to hear the happy tidings! She stands on the rock of the garden every day, and all day long, to see whether old Hans is coming.”

”She shall soon have that pleasure,” answered Albert; ”I will be off to-morrow, if possible; and will write to her in the mean time.”

”But be cautious what you do,” said Hans; ”the strip of parchment must not be longer than the one I brought you, for I must conceal it also under my knee-band. We cannot be too careful in these times; and no one will look for it there.”

”Let it be so, then,” answered Albert, as he rose from his seat. ”And now adieu for the present; come to me at noon at Dieterick von Kraft's house, it is not far from the cathedral, and any one will shew it you.

If they ask you where you come from, say you are a countryman of mine from Franconia, because the Ulmers are not well affected towards the Wurtembergers.”

”Don't be afraid, sir; you will not have any fault to find with me,”

replied Hans, as he parted from Albert. He looked back at the slim young man, and thought his sister's foster child, had made no bad choice in the object of her love.

CHAPTER IX.

”The world and all I'd sacrifice for thee; And do it cheerfully--but only flee.”

SCHILLER.

Albert felt some uneasiness, at first, as to how his new acquaintance might behave in Kraft's house. It was not without reason, that he feared he might betray himself by his dialect or inconsiderate explanations, which would put him in an awkward position; for, though it was his firm resolution to quit the service of the League in a few days, still he did not wish it to be suspected that he was in correspondence with Wurtemberg. Neither could he nor would he betray the secret of Bertha having sent a messenger to him, should he be unfortunately discovered. He thought of turning back, looking for the man, and begging him to leave the town as soon as possible; but when he recollected that, he must have long since left the place where they had held their conversation, and that he might in the mean time have arrived at the house, it appeared to him more advisable to hasten home to put Hans on his guard, and warn him against committing an indiscretion.

There was, however, something so peculiar in the sharp eye and the bold cunning countenance of the man, which gave him reason to hope, that Bertha, in the hasty choice she had made of the means of communicating with him, would not have confided her message to uncertain hands.

Albert had scarcely entered Kraft's house, when, at noon, a countryman from Franconia was announced; and the messenger of his love was shewn in. Can this man now before me be the same who left me but a few moments ago, thought Albert, surprised at his appearance, with his back bent nearly double, his arms hanging lifeless by his body, his eyes devoid of all animation? He could scarcely believe his eyes and ears, when he addressed Kraft, who saluted him in pure Franconian dialect, and answered his many questions with the volubility of a native of that country. Albert with difficulty repressed a smile at the strange metamorphosis of his new acquaintance; and was tempted to believe in the supernatural stories he had heard in his childhood, which described kind magicians, or gracious fairies, devoting themselves under all sorts of forms to the service of true lovers, and carrying them safely through the wiles of fate.

The charm was soon dispelled, when Albert and the messenger were left alone in the room; and the Swabian peasant had a.s.sured him of his being the same person. But Albert could not conceal his astonishment at the part he had acted so well.

”I hope you will not think less honourably of me,” said the countryman; ”we are often put to our wits to get on in the world: such arts hurt no one, but a.s.sist him who knows how to practise them.”

Albert a.s.sured him of his confidence, when the messenger urgently pressed him to think of his immediate departure; and not to forget how ardently the lady longed to hear the news of it. He added, that he dared not return home, before he could bring her the positive intelligence of his having quitted Ulm.

Albert said, he would only wait until the army of the League had marched, and then return home.