"What is all this noise?" he demanded, and as he spoke, he recognized in Jonas, the leader of the Anabaptists, a servant whom he had discharged for thievery. He at once told the peasants of this, and it turned them against the three strangers and stopped the disturbance, but at the back of the crowd the Count Oberthal had seen the beautiful Bertha and Faith. "What do ye do here?" he asked, curiously but kindly, noticing the beauty of Bertha. At that she went toward him. "I wish to ask you, Seigneur, for leave to marry outside your domain. I love John of Leyden, the innkeeper--this is his mother--and she has come to take me home with her, if I may go." She spoke modestly, never thinking but she would be permitted to leave. But Oberthal looked at her admiringly and decided that he would have her for himself. Then thinking of her love, she began to sing of how John had once saved her life, and Faith joined her in pleading. [Music: One day in the waves of the Meuse I struggled I struggled John, John saved me--] "No," Oberthal said at last, smiling; "I will not have so much loveliness leave my domain. No! I shall not give my consent." At that she began to weep, while Faith protested against his decision. This made him angry and he ordered the two woman taken into his castle and confined there till he should decide what he wished to do with them. The peasants, who were still gathered about the Anabaptists, uncertain how to treat them after the Count's disclosures, now showed great anger against Oberthal for his action toward Bertha and Faith. As the two women were dragged within the castle, the peasants set up a howl of rage, while the Anabaptists extended their hands above them in a pious manner and began their Latin chant once more. ACT II At the little inn belonging to Faith, John had been waiting all day for her return with Bertha, and trying his best to look after those who came and went. Outside, people were waltzing and drinking and making merry, for the inn was a favourite place for the townsmen of Leyden to congregate. "Sing and waltz; sing and waltz!" they cried, "all life is joy--and three cheers for thee, John!" "Hey! John, bring beer," a soldier called merrily. "Let us eat, drink and--" At that moment Jonas, followed by the other Anabaptists, appeared at the inn. "John! who is John?" they inquired of the soldier. "John! John!" first one, then another called. "Here are some gentlemen who want beer--although they are very unlikely looking chaps," some one added, under his breath, looking the three fellows over. John came in to take orders, but his mind was elsewhere. "It is near night--and they have not come," he kept thinking. "I wonder if anything can have happened to them! Surely not! My mother is old, but she is lively on her feet, and on her way home she would have the attention of Bertha. Only I should feel better to see them just now."