Part 53 (1/2)
Were all those marauders you commanded honest mechanics?”
”Every man of them.”
”Then you must be the villain of the piece who led those worthy ironworkers astray?”
Roland laughed heartily.
”That is quite true,” he said. ”Have I fallen in your estimation?”
”No; to me you appeared as a rescuer. Besides, I come of a race of ruffians, and doubtless on that account take a more lenient view of your villainy than may be the case with others.”
The young man stopped in his walk, and seized her hands again, which she allowed him to possess unresisting.
”Hilda,” he said solemnly, ”your guardian thought the Archbishop of Mayence had relented, and would withdraw his opposition to our marriage.
Has Mayence said anything to corroborate that estimate?”
”Nothing.”
”Has your guardian broached the subject to him?”
”Yes; but the att.i.tude of my Lord of Mayence was quite inscrutable.
Personally I think my guardian wrong in his surmise. The Archbishop of Treves murmured that Mayence never forgives. I am certain I offended him too deeply for pardon. He wishes the future Empress to be a pliable creature who will influence her husband according to his Lords.h.i.+p's desires, but, as I have boasted several times, I belong to the House of Sayn.”
”Hilda, will you marry me in spite of the Archbishops?”
”Roland, will you forego kings.h.i.+p for my sake?”
”Yes; a thousand times yes!”
”You said 'For the Empress; not for the Empire,' but if I am no Empress, you will as cheerfully wed me?”
”Yes.”
”Then _I_ say yes!”
He caught her in his arms, and they floated into the heaven of their first kiss, an ecstatic melting together. Suddenly she drew away from him.
”There is some one coming,” she whispered.
”Nothing matters now,” said Roland breathlessly. ”There is no one in the world to-day but you and me.”
Hildegunde drew her hands down her cheeks, as if to brush away their tell-tale color and their warmth.
”'Tis like,” said Roland, ”that you marry a poor man.”
”Nothing matters now,” she repeated, laughing tremulously. ”I am said to be the richest woman in Germany. I shall build you a forge and enlist myself your apprentice. We will paint over the door 'Herr Roland and wife; sword makers.'”
Two men appeared at the end of the alley, and stood still; the one with a frown on his brow, the other with a smile on his lips.