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"I will also be an invisible witness of thy conference with him, that thou mayest say all that I have commanded. Listen to this warning: at the foot of the tower tarry two of my boys with hard hands; if he descend without me, he will not pass the threshold alive."

"The King is truly careful," answered Frau Gisela, motionless. Then her look fell upon the King's sword, and she cried out: "The stone on the King's knife shines bloodily; it is the death-weapon of thine ancestors." With difficulty mastering her terror, she continued: "From the apartment of the Queen, formerly, men's swords were excluded. Why has the King transgressed my rights?"

"It is only foresight, Gisela," replied the King, grimly. He walked to the end of the room, opened a little side door, and disappeared behind it.

The Queen stood again alone, and her thoughts were in wild tumult. "The King in his lurking-place meditates an act of violence, and I shall be the helper of an unworthy deed."

Then the step of another sounded outside, and Ingo entered, without armor or a sword. "I thank thee, cousin Gisela," he began cordially, "for having today opened thy tower to me." He looked at the splendid room, at the embroidered tapestry on the wall, and costly articles from foreign lands. "Since I lost my mother, I have never entered the state-chamber of a Queen. Why dost thou stand so solemnly, cousin?" he continued, sorrowfully: "Forgive me if I do not rejoice, as I ought, in the honor thou doest me in receiving the poor Ingo in Queen's attire." He seized her hand; in spite of her anguish a bright color passed over her pale countenance, as she drew her hand back.

"The entrance to the Queen's chamber is easier than the passage out of the tower door," she said, in a low tone.

"I saw the King's boys lurking about," said Ingo, "and that does not surprise me, for I know that the mind of the King, who was formerly kind to me, has been excited against me by Harietto; therefore I beg thee to take care, as far as thou canst, that no shame may befall me. I am weary, Queen, of my earthly lot; I have given offense to every guest-friend --- miserable everywhere, like a mad wolf, hunted from court to court. Such a life is contemptible, for I feel I am worthy of a better fate; and I myself mean to take care that I shall not be bound, as a living man, by Roman fetters. But if thou canst not avert my fate, then, I pray thee, preserve my blood-comrades --- the wandering band --- from an inglorious death. Gladly would they fight against any one, whoever it might be; but they fear a destruction which may approach them invisibly, for we are fast hemmed in between stone walls."

The Queen fixed her eyes, speechless, on the concealed door; suddenly she gave a violent scream, for the King came out, and exclaimed, "Thou hast caged thyself for thy last wound!" With raised sword the King rushed against Ingo, but Gisela sprang like a lioness between them, turning away his arm, so that the sword fell clattering to the floor. Ingo seized the weapon, and, brandishing it, exclaimed: "Thy life is in my hand, King Bisino! Little would thine armor avail thee, if I did by thee as thou hast thought of doing by me. Thank the god in whom thou trustest that the guest-oath is more sacred to me than to thee." And he threw the King's weapon before his feet. A slight sound, like the groaning of a woman, was heard in the room.

The King looked wildly around him. "Thou speakest like a man; come, then, take thy sword from the steps; we will fight."

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