“Wolves!” she muttered through her white teeth. She suffered me to lead her palfrey. My men walked beside the horses of her retinue. Adolf’s flail-like sword clattered on the cobbles in a way that warned against molesting us. We were soon at the _Goldene Krone_, where mine host relieved, came running to greet me, “fearful lest his Lordship had been murdered in the brawling.” We were soon behind good bolts and bars, and though we heard shouting later, and a couple of arquebuse shots, the inn servants brought in tidings that the tumult was quieting before a vigorous demonstration by the bishop’s guards, and that nobody had really perished. As for the strange leader of the riot, he had vanished down a side street, and none could catch him. “One of the innumerable hawkers of Luther’s pamphlets, no doubt,” quoth the host, with a shake of his head, “oh! such times. The whole town by the ears over a few sheets of paper. Men get so excited crying ‘Luther’ and ‘Leo’ over their cups, they forget the need of a second flagon. Ruin to all good business!” By the time the outbreak had quieted it was far too late for the abbess to continue to Hanover for the night,--she being on journey homeward, her maids explained, from Osnabrück, where there had been a meeting of her order. The host placed at her disposal the rooms which I had taken, and I confess to a little sinful delight at putting Her Reverence under an increased obligation. Ever coldly precise, the abbess ere retiring deigned to say a few words of formal thanks for my double service. “But, gracious and holy Lady,” said I, with my best bow, “I have vast pleasure in befriending the near kinswoman of my dear comrade Graf Moritz von Blankenburg.” The abbess’s pink and white face colored again. In a tone as monotonous as a slow chill river she answered me. “I am indeed grateful. I would ill requite your present courtesy, my Lord Graf von Regenstein, by speaking of other days, and indeed since now that lady you once called Ilsa von Blankenburg is become a blessed bride of Christ, I can think of no reason why I should not accept your gallantry with all thanks; and yet--” She hesitated, eying me deliberately, as if asking me to draw her disapproval, and I complied not unwillingly. “I am awaiting your Reverence’s opinion.” “The Graf von Regenstein will not grow angry if I say I would have my nephew and himself less intimate friends. I have heard the reports of your life at Rome and Palaestro. I know of your connection with that Cardinal of Forli, one of the few, the _very_ few churchmen whom His Holiness in excess of benignity allows to disgrace his sacred calling. I am not unaware how you sought to frustrate my pious wish, and turn my niece away from the convent to your own most sinful life. Nevertheless, inasmuch as it was your own action, Sir Graf, which at last overcame her hesitation and drove her into our blessed retreat, again I can do nothing else than thank you.”