"Why should I be? Women and children will be respected. I mean her and her aunt to be very useful to us; for I expect that this empty old castle will be filled with wounded men, and Hildegarde must tend them like the heroines of old song." "Ah, that I gladly will," cried Hildegarde. "As soon as you and Adolph ride off, I shall summon the servants, tell them what is to be expected, and superintend their immediate preparations for the reception of the sick." "The strong-rooms and dungeons must be looked to also," said the Baron; "for we may expect many prisoners." "Ah, papa! don't put any of them down into those dark holes full of newts and toads, only fit for the barbarous times!" "Certainly not; but we must provide for their security, nevertheless, or they may seize the castle and put _you_ into one of the dark holes, instead." "Ugh!--I am sure I should not live through the night! My hair would turn quite white. Why, Adolph, you have no idea what terrible stories are told of those dungeons--" "Old wives' tales--" "_True_ tales. Bones have been found. Human hair sticking to the wall. Stains of blood!--" "Well, well, we are not going to repeat those things. You may pet your prisoners as much as you like, so long as you do not let them run away, nor run away with them." "With _one_ of them, papa, I suppose you meant to say. Well, I accept your _carte-blanche_; but you must leave me the cellar-key." "To treat the captive knight like the fair, Saracen?" "Sick men require wine, papa. And I must have beef and mutton, and bread and beer, in unlimited quantities, for those who are well." "Nay, Hildegarde, as my fortune is not unlimited, I see it will be to my interest to effect a very speedy exchange of prisoners--if the enemy have the good luck to make any. But here are we reckoning on the captured and wounded before the battle is fought!" And, hastily despatching his breakfast, the Baron collected his papers together, and went away to give various orders. "I hope the campaign will be a short and a brilliant one," said Hildegarde anxiously. "I shall so long for papa to return." "My mother will soon join you," said Adolph. "But if you are in the least fear--" "Oh no! All my fears are for him; I have none for myself. There is nothing I shall more gladly do than help to nurse the poor men who have been wounded in fighting for our liberties. Terrible gashes and amputations, indeed, I do not feel quite equal to. If we could get a medical man to remain in the castle,--" "Why should not you? Some of the Capuchins are very clever. Father Joachim Haspinger has been an army chaplain, and is preparing for service again. He is as good, I am told, at setting a limb as at breaking a head. His reputation and influence among the peasantry are immense. What a pleasant day that was, Hildegarde, when we visited the Capuchin convent at Brixen!"