AZON THE TERRIBLE; OR, The Spectre of the Brocken.

Daily Telegraph (Napier), Issue 4036, 28 June 1884, Page 5 (Supplement)

AZON THE TERRIBLE; OR, The Spectre of the Brocken.

THE HOWEL.ST,

A TALE OP THE BLACK FOREST. By John Frederick Smith. CHAPTKII XXVII. Of noble presence, and a brow serene, Matilda next appeared upon the scene ; Aa chaste as ice ere yet the sun's warm beam Transformed its crystal to tho gliding stream. A lofty purpose filled a loftier mind, To break the iron fetters of mankind ; To raise weak woman to her rightful place, Adorn her triumph with her sex's grace. Such were her aims ; not vulgar lust of power ; She read the future in the present hour. The Ai'thor. Roland followed his guide with unabated confidence, for upwards of a league, through various winding paths ; now forcing a way through the tangled maze of short evergreen oaks, still common in Tuscany ; now wading through low, marshy lunds, caused by the overflowing of the Arno, so frequent at this season of the year, for tho climate of Italy is far more variablo than that of Germany. Even in the depths of winter three or four days of warm sunshine will appear, melting the snows of the Apennines, till their waters spread over valleys nestled at their feet. This sudden chango rarely lasts long. Tho north winds return, and with their frozen kiss lock them once more in its cold embrace. Once or twice our hero had been startled by the appearance of a group of armed men, which, he discovered, had been placed at short distances to insure his safety. At a word from his companion, they lowered their lances and saluted as they passed. Although his confidence in Griswald rej mained unshaken, his curiosity was naturally excited by the adventure. Who could the mysterious lady be to whom his guide was conducting him, but whoso name he did not know? And what could be her motives? he mentally asked himself. Irititated by this suspense, he summoned the forester to his side. ' I cannot understand these proceedings,' he observed, when the man joined him. ' Nor I,' replied tho former, c but the master does.' 'Has Alf trusted you with the lady's name ?' ' I told you,' said Griswald, frankly. ' I might have forgotten it, and to have writton would havo been useless, for I cannot read.' ' Have you seen the lady P' ' Yes, onco.' ' And her age?' ' Well,' answered Griswald, with a smile, which, from the darkness of the night, his young lord could not perceive, ' about the same, I should say, as tho high-born countess, your mother.' Tho heir of Ragcnstein received tho information with unconscious satisfaction He was neither vain nor easily attracted by tho charm of beauty, and his heart was wholly devoted to his betrothed. Still he was human, and wished to avoid the embarrassments, as well as tho dangers, of temptation. ' Is it much farther that we have to march ?' ho asked. 'As well as I can judge,' answerod his guide, ' about three bow shots. If my noble lord will wait,' ho added, ' till yonder murky cloud has passed from tho face of the moon, I doubt not but wo shall perceive the castle at that distance.' In a few minutea a break in the dark curtain of the night pormitted Roland to discern, at about tho distance tho speaker had guessed at the sharp outlines of an extensive castle, or rather a fortress. Towers, battlements, escarpments —nothing seemed wanting for defence. Before, however, he could complete his observations the lamp of night again became obscured, and all again was darkness. 1 Let us proceed,' he said. And the fovoster resumed his march a few paces in advance of the speaker. They arrived at their destination sooner than our adventurous knight had anticipated. He found himself in front of a vast building, which he suspected to bo strongly fortified. We say suspected, for it was still so dark that ho could discern nothing very distinctly. Not a light appeared at any of tho loop-holes or embrasures. Here they wero joined by a small party of men-at-arms, with whom the foroster exchanged tho usual password. Tho place might havo been uninhabited for any outward signs. Not a cresset burned upon battlement, lower or walls. 'Follow mo,' said the loader of the men, who had ovidently been waiting their arri' val. He led thorn to the east angle of the moafc, which they crossed by a succession of planks, supported on light boats, carefully drawn up to a small postern or sally-port. By this postern they were admitted, and after travorsing a long passage, found themselves in a well-lighted hall. Here all was changed. Torches burned in sconces attached to gothic columns; banners, which had been borne in many a hotly contested field, hung from the roof ; and cheerful firos wero blazing in the enormous recesses which serrod as chimneys. An aged knight—probably the seneschal of the castle—approached our hero, and raising his steel morion, courteously inquired if he had the honor of addressing tho most highborn Count of Ragcnstein. Such was tho formal iajjguage of the period. •' His son, 5 answered Roland, modestly. ' 'Tis well,' said the questioner. 'It is his son whom wo expect. Please to accompany me into an inner chamber. A soldier's repast awaits you.' On entering a smaller apartment the knight found a table richly spread ; everything served in curiously chiselled plate, for which the artistic Florentines were even then celebrated ; but the food was strictly a soldier's fare, plain, wholesome, and substantial. But the wines proved exquisite, and the speakers did ample justico to them both, It was not till their appetites had been satisfied that conversation was renewed. 'T presume,' observed tho seneschal (the previous supposition proved to be a corroct one), 'that you are expecting a love tryst. Sorry to disappoint you. Well, well,' he added, with a smile upon his wrinkled features, ' it was only natural at your age.' • I am not disappointed,' replied our hero, * neither did I anticipate any such meeting, Tho expectation would not have brought me here.' 'What then, my lord?' ' Tho advice of a truo friend.' ' And you trusted your lifo to it?' ' Did I tell you that ho was my friend ?' said Roland, gravely. ' What would bo the worth of friendship if a mere doubt could shako it?' The nobleness of tho reply seemed to win the old knight's heart, and he hastily extended his hand, which his guest, not understanding, failed to grasp. ' You need not hesitate to take it,' observed tho oged man, coldly, and somewhat proudly. ' In all Italy there is not a nobler name —' ' Before you tell it,' intomvptod our hero,' and at tho same time taking tho profforcd hand respectfully, ' let me assure you that I did not perceive your intentions, nor do I yet comprehend what I havo done or said to call forth a feeling which I respond to gratefully.' The countenance of the seneschal cleared instantly as he returned the pressure. •' She will be satisfied,' he added, half aloud. 'She!' repeated Roland to himself. 'Who can ho mean ?'-' I 'It is timo the mystery should end,' resumed the speaker. 'My name is Andrea/ Colonna, Grand Seneschal of Tuscany, and.l commander of the forces of its sovereign \

lady, tho Countess Matilda, who wishes to sec and consult with you.' 'With mo?' said his hearer, greatly astonished nfc finding himsolf called so unexpectedly to ndviso with ono of tho clearest intellects of the ago. ' Alas ! what counsels can I give to your illustrious countrywoman, young as I am, inexperienced, with little but a true heart and sword to recommend mo ?' ' Invaluable allies in a struggle such as ours,' replied Andrea. Colonna, struck by his modesty. 'You underralo your success. The holy father has not forgotten tho youthful knight who protected his retreat to Ragcnstein; escorted him to Corbcy. I know that lie holds your courage and sagacity

in groat esteem. It is at his request the countess has arranged this meeting. Igo to announce your arrival at tho castle of Pratolino, where its sovereign mistress arrived three clays since in secret; hence these strange precautions. Florence believes she is still within its walls, but too ill to appear in public' With this explanation, tho speaker quitted tho apartment. It was no wonder that our hero folt bewildered. Events had so crowded upon him within the last few days that ho had not found time to class, far less understand them. Had he known how greatly his old tutor Alf was trusted by the pontiff and the countess, the mystery might not have appeared quite so inexplicable. 'What advice can I give ?' ho murmured, after some minutes' reflection, 'to one who lias proved herself so wise in counsel, so successful in all her undertakings ? It is but a pretext, the reason for bringing mc here is still to be explained.' Again ho indulged in over-varying Biirmiso. Once he started from his seat, ex-

claiming : 'No! no ! impossible. It would bo too terrible'

Andrea Colonna appeared at the door, and beckoned him to follow to the presence of the countess. He found the illustrious lady arrayed in a dross of dark mulberry colored velvet, without jowels or ornaments of any kind ; her hair braided simply round her lofty forehead. Her eyes were piercing dark, andlustrous, and she fixed them searchingly upon tho countenance of tho youthful noble, who half bent tho knee as he kissed her hand, and then stood silently before her.

Tho soneschal was right; the impression Roland had produced was a most favorable ono; still she proceeded with her habitual caution.

' Pardon me, my Lord of Ragenstein,' she said, 'the means by which you have been brought to our poor castlo of Pratolino, and the unceremonious roception you have met with. But the times are perilous, and I cannot place perfect confidence in tho fidelity of all my subjects, or I should have welcomed you at Florence.' At a sign from their royal mistress two pages drew a heavy chair over the rushstrewn floorto the opposite end of the table at which she was seated.

' Forgive the question I am about to ask,' resumed Matilda, as soon as the pages had withdrawn and her visitor was seated. ' It implies no doubt of your honor or identity, but we are surrounded by enemies as subtle as unscrupulous. Havo you no token by which I may recognise you and make assurance doubly sure ?'

The sensitive spirit of Roland detected tho lurking suspicion, or rathor the shadow of one, so delicately veiled beneath these courteous words. His countenance flushed as he bowed gravely and replied, somewhat coldly: ' Lady, only my word.'

* Forgive me,' said Matilda, perceiving she had offended him. 'Of course, the question was unnecessary, but women are naturally cautious as well as timid. I thought you might have possessed somo token or relic. They told me that you had.' Never had her hearer felt so greatly Burprised. ' I have such a token,' he exclaimed ; ' the gift of the truest love, the purest faith that ever Heaven bestowed on man. Had I dreamt that you alluded to it I should havo produced it instantly.' Hastily removing tho jewelled reliquary and chain from his neck, he placed thorn in the hand of Matilda, who kissed them rorerently. ' Do you recognise it ?' he added.

' Perfectly,' said the countess ; 'it was my own gift to him who in time bestowed it upon tho tender nurse who watched over his sick couch at Ragenstein. Permit me to replace it. I perceive you are uneasy till it is onco more round your neck. And now,' she added, with a smilo; ' let us converse like long-tried friends and allies.'

' I am honored in your confidence,' was tho reply. Glancing ab the hour-glass which stood next to tho silver crucifix in tho centre of the tabic the lady announced tho startling intelligence that Gregory tho Sevonth had by this time abandoned Rome. ' Then the cause for which he has labored and suffered is lost?' exclaimed hor hearer, despondingly. ' Not so,' observed tho former. ' Were our holy pontiff alone upon a barren rock without ono man-at-arms to defend him, he would still bo invincible. His strength is in his cause.'

There was a firm confidence in tho voice, an enthusiasm in tho flashing eyes of the speaker as she pronounced these words which proved tho depth of her convictions. ' God will raiso bim up defenders,' she continued. » Tljo Roman barons wore unfaithful ; secretly conspired with the emperor against him. His flight—for it amounted to that—was by my advice. In duo time tho traitors will meet their fitting recompense.' ' And whither, noble lady, has he fled ?' 'To the strong fortress of Canossa,' replied Matilda, ' near Bari, in Naples, whose Norman nobles, barbarians though they are, have proved faithful to the church. They aro ready to march to hia assistance.'

The countenance of our hero appeared less desponding. ' How can wo aid him ?' ho asked. 'The triumphant army of the emperor lies between us, and the disaffected Bomans swell its ranks.'

' Rome will soon grow sick of her self-in-vited guests,' remarked tho extraordinary woman, who, with tho courage of a man, combined the tact of a leader. 'Haveyou marked the conduct of your countrymen as they marched through Italy ? In every state they passed through they have acted the part of brutal, rapacious conquerors. Cities havo been plundered ; churches despoiled of their most precious treasures. One dealer, and Henry and his allies will have an awful account to settle with the peoples they havo so wantonly insulted and oppressed. We must join forces,' sho added, ' and hasten to Canossa.'

' By marching through Bomo and encountering the army of Henry?' demanded Roland.

The consummate prudence and warlike skill of Matilda wero conspicuous in her reply. ■ _ ' Not so,' she said, with a faint smile; 'it would bo destruction to the cause.'

* Alas, yes ! sighed tho young knight. ' Listen,' continued the female warrior and politician. 'I have long foreseen this extremity and prepared against jit. By my command a numerous fleet of transports has been slowly gathered at Leghorn —some vessels I havo hired of the Genoese. Tho greater part of my troops aro already at tho point of embarkation, the rest prepared to join them at a few hours' notice. Once arrived, wo sail for Mola di Gacta, which is but a few leagues from Canossa. I await but your answer,' she added, ' to give the: signal. Must I sail alone ??■ ' Heroine, sagacious as undaunted!' exclaimed Roland, kissing her hand in admiration of her courage, ' Heaven must have inspired the noble project, Man is not worthy to havo conceived it.' The details rendered necessary by this change in the destination of the expedition were speedily arranged between Roland and

Andrea Colonna. It is unnecessary to give them.

By daybreak our young commander had taken leave of tlio Countess Matilda, and was on tho way back to his own encampment.

Scarcely had ho accomplished half the distance than lie encountered his friend, Otto, at tho head of a numerous body of Lanskcncters, scouring the country in search of him, and who, tho instant lie beheld him, first threw himself into his arms, exclaiming : 'Thank Heaven, you aro safe!' and then began to reproach him.

' Arc you mad,' lie asked, 'or have you a dozen lives, that you hazard them in this madcap fashion ? You have no right to pain those who lovo you by such reckless imprudence. Whore havo you been? What have you been doing ? Explain yourself, if you hope to be forgiven.'

'Dearest friend,' replied the young knight, as soon as he could obtain a hearing, 'calm, I entreat you, this unreasonable excitement.'

' Unreasonable ?' repeated Otto; ' perhaps it is. Why should I care for tho safety of one who cares so little for himself? Unreasonable !' 'The word appeared to stick in his throat. ' Why, even our pilgrim charge, whoso coolness is as imperturbable as his cowl, became excited, and insisted on accompanying us in search of you.'

The mysterious personage alluded lo now drew near.

' Hillo ! hillo !' ho shouted, giving tho huntsman's cry beneath his hood. ' Found ! found ! The chase has proved a pleasant one !'

' As you perceive,' replied our hero, after thanking him for the interest ho had shown. 'And a profitable ono,' added the Gray Brother, in his old tone of irony. ' Tho most successful fowlers prefer setting their shares alone. I suspect there has been a woman in tho case.'

'To Otto's great surprise his friend did not deny the charge,and the half-suppressed, chuckling laugh of tho speaker, annoyed him.

' You sec ho can't deny it,' exclaimed tho latter.

' And why should he deny it ?' replied the lord of Zellc, warmly. ' Who has the right to question him ? Roland of Ragenstein owes no account to any one. Ho answers only to his own honor.'

' Or the high and mighty Otto,' added tho pilgrim, with provoking calmness.

' Ceaso, I entreat you,' said our hero, fearing a renewal of their ancient discord. ' When I havo a secret to confide, I confide it willingly. lam not to be driven into a confession.'

They were treading upon dangerous ground. Each of tho speakers felt this, and by tacit consent the subject was permitted to drop.

Great was the astonishment of his friend when Roland rolated the adventures of the night, and the change in their march.

'What an impetuous fool lam!' he exclaimed. ' I ought to have known that no light motive caused your absence. You are wiser than I am—but that I have long since known. And better,' he added ;' my indiscretion has given yon jeering fool an advantage over me.'

'Which you will speedily regain, observed his brother in arms, laughingly. 'In tho meanwhile let us observe everything, and keep our own counsel.'

' I could not die with a clear conscience,' said Otto, 'and my debt to the jeering knavo unpaid; for whatever his birth or rank, I feel assured that he is one, as time will prove.'

' I fear so,' replied his friend. ' Not exactly, perhaps, in the sense you mean it, but in a far more serious one. Still, my conduct towards him must continue the same. Remember my plighted word to the legate.' Before noon tbe same day the tents of tho expeditionary force were struck, and leaders and men on thoir march to Leghorn, or, as tho Italians name the port, Livorno.

CHAPTER XXVIII

Over the sea the barque they guide,

And gayly stem each foaming crest: Tho sailor woos his ocean bride, And sinks mid waves and storms to rest ; Whilst tho rough winds sing their lullaby. Over tranquil seas, by sun-bright isles, When the ship is lightly dancing, And beauty's eyes, and love-lit smiles, Through memory's dreams seem glancing, rrhen the soft breeze whispers lullaby. ONGS OF THE OCEAN, BY THE AUTHOR.

Tho emperor and Azon, in their invasion of Lombardy, had been received with a certain amount of enthusiasm, or, if not enthusiasm, with submission. The north of Italy, which rcccivod (ho first shock of the barbarian arms as they poured their countloss hordes as they advanced to the destruction of the Roman empire, settled and named after the conquerors, the, Longobardi —Lombards—still retained a strong sympathy with their countrymen beyond tho Rhine, and their presence seemed a renewal of former conquests. Although nominally Christians, thoy could not understand how a priest, the ruler of a small territory, possessed of no great material strength, could successfully oppose a warlike enemy.

Success always imposes upon the ignorant and unreflecting. We havo scon it in comparatively modern times, and even at the present day.

The friendly feelings of the Lombards wero speedily changed to those of hate when they saw their fertile plains devastated, their churches despoiled of their treasure, their cities heavily taxed j and it was an intonso relief to them when they saw the invaders depart. They left behind them a doep-voqted s,entimprit, '

In this crisis the Italian clergy manifested an unwonted amount of energy and devotion to their head. They were quite astute enough to perceive that it was their, own battles he was fighting. Intelligence that theCountesß Matilda and our hero, with the forces under their..command, had succeoded in throwing themselves between Rome and Canossa fell like a thunder clap upon the emperor and Azon. They had looked upon Gregory as already in their power, and fascinated by the ploasuros of the Eternal City, delayod their march till too late to prevent the junction.

The Palsgrave was furious, and bitterly reproached his imperial, ally with procrastinating the advance, urging that it might provo the ruin of their cause.

Henry laughed at the prediction

' What can Matilda do,' he asked, ' with her scanty force ? Andrea Colonna is an old man.'

'But an experienced one,' replied Azon. ' I have crossed swords with him more than once. His arm may be weak, but he holds his men well in hand.'

'Let him. Ido not fear him. As for the Normans —brave follows, I admit, but enoryated by thp luscious wines of Sicily, They are holding back to drive a hard bargain with the wretched pope, whom thoy will sell to us at our own price. Oh! how I long to sco him a suppliant at my feet!'

Hiß hearer shook his head. He was far more clear-sighted than tho doomed monarch, who was predicting his own fate. ' And yet,' ho observed, ' the interdict has been obeyed in our fatherland.'

' More traitors to punish and possessions to declare forfeit!' exclaimed Henry, passionately; . 'and thoy shall havo their fill. The wolf and the vulture '—alluding to the crests,of Azon and tho Duke of Baden— 'shall gorge themselves upon their felon carcasses. -■ But thino shall bo the choicest fare. As for the boy .Roland,' he added, ' I will not insult your skill and renown in arms by more than naming him.' 'You may leave him safety in my hands,' replied the mortal enemy of the young hero, gloomily. 'I have a long account to settle with him —a debt of hate. It shall be paid in full.'

Ho alluded to tho death of his son, Prince Rodolph, who, according to tho ideas of the age, bad fallen in honorable combat against our hero, and yet his father had never really mourned for him. It was the loss of his heir whioh ho regretted. Affection had no place.in his odious heart.

' Well, well,' said tho emperor, 'revenge is sweet. I can understand your impatience, and will not disappoint it. Issue the order to our troops. In tho morning we march towards Naples. And yet I shall regret Rome,' he added, with a sigh, as he thought of its pleasures and still unplundored wealth.

The project of Matilda to proceed by sea to the succor of the imperrilled pontiff had been boldly planned, and still more boldly executed, for it left hor fertile possessions with little othor protection than the lovo of her subjects, who at this hazardous crisis of the war proved their fidelity by devotion to her cause, which, after all, strictly speaking, was not theirs. Few of the actors in those memorablo struggles, we suspect, had the faintest perception of the results, which, through the contests of ages, they would ultimately produce—the gradual emancipation of nations from the thrall of superstition and despotism, these twin ovils of tho human race.

The shades of doubt, anxiety and susponso disappeared from the features of Gregory the Seventh as he stood at the principal cntranco of tho strong castle of Canossa watching the arrival of his long-cxpoctcd friends, who, having disembarked safely at Mola di Gacta, wore marching rapidly to his assistance. Tho distance, fortunately, is but a few leagues. His countenance appeared calm and grave. Something like a smile of triumph curled his lips when he rocognised tho countess riding on her white palfroy between Roland and Andrea Colonna, and surrounded by numerous nobles and knights.

Otto led the rear. Tho pilgrim —tho cause of so much care and annoyanco on their journey—still wearing his cowl, was marching by bis side. ' Let us hasten,' said tho formor. ' The holy fathor himself is waiting at the gates to bestow upon us his benediction. Wo have both cause to rejoice with you that your long, dreary pilgrimage is ended, and I—' Tho speakor paused. His natural senso of courtesy prevented his finding the sentence as he intended. ' And I, too,' he substituted. His companion laughod. ' Thank Heaven, it is almost tho last time I shall hear it,' muttered the young knight to himself. 'I am sick of him. His laugh reminds mo of a screech owl mocking the moon with its cries. I have sometimes, despite his speeches, doubted whether the thing is human.' Ho was still further surprised when, on entering the court-yard of the castlo, ho saw the mysterious pilgrim received with unusual marks of honor by the pontiff. Two cardinals conducted him into the interior of tho building. On the night of the ensuing day a still more extraordinary circumstance occurred.

Many of our readers are doubtless, aware that tho Mass is never celebrated artcr the hour of noon, except on Christmas-Eve. It is against the canons of the church. It is true, the pope has power to dispense with them, but very rarely exercises it —at least, not in modern days.

It was nearly midnight. Roland and Otto were making their last rounds before retiring to rest, when tho attention of the former was attracted to the windows of the chapel, through which a flood of light streamed into the court below.

' Some sacred rite is being performed,' ho observed.

Otto shrugged his shoulders, and would have proceeded, had not bis companion placed a hand upon his arm and gently restrained him. They paused to listen. The low, solemn Gregorian chant fell upon their ears as it camo stealing, as it wero, through the closed doors. Tho tinkling of a small bell, and involuntarily the young men sank upon their knees.

' It is the Mass they are celebrating,' whispered Roland. ' I can endure this mystery no longer,' he exclaimed, half aloud. 'We have performed our compact. Are wo to be treated as children ? No confidence placed in us ? And yet me thinks wo have deserved it.'

' Tho battlement wo have just quitted,' observed Otto,' commands a view of tho interior of the chapel. Shall wo retrnoe our steps, or, like young falcons, still submit to be hoodwinked?'

■ The first suggestions was adopted, and in a few minutes the speakers were in a position to witness all that was taking place in tho chapel, although they could hear nothing except the low, subdued chant of tho choir. The scene was a remarkable one.

On the highest step of tho altar stood the sovereign pontiff, arrayed in all tho insignia of liia office and surrounded by a group of cardinals and prelates. Matilda occupied a chair on tho outsido of tho sanctuary. No femalo foot except that of a consecrated sistor might penetrate beyond tho marble railings.

But tho figure which most attracted tho attention of the two friends was that of a young man about their own age, clad in a white silk tunic, kneeling outside the barrier, a richly illuminated manuscript of the gospels held by two bishops diroctly in front of him.

Evidently he had just taken, or was about take, somo solemn oath.

The countenanco of Gregory was majestic and severe. Roland and Otto could porcoivo his lips movo, but failed to catch even a passing word.

Thrice was tho formula ropeatod, and thrice did the kneeling man kiss tho sacred volume. The last time he appeared to hesitate.

Matilda rose, a.nd with an animated gesture, addressed somo observation to tho pontiff, who evidently repeated her words. The singular personage—ovidently no ordinary one —hesitated no longer, but sealed tho oath or promise a third time with his lips.

A low, murmured ' jubilate ' roso from the unseen choir ; the lights were extinguished, and tho chapel plunged in darkness. The concealed spectators retreated from,; the spot undiscovered, and only in their own quarters, and then with bated breath, ventured to exchange thoughts upon the singu-j lar scene thpy had just witnessed. «I am vory glad I am in Io?b, v observed Otto, in a whisper to his friend. ' And why so ?' demanded the latter. ' Curiosity would kill mo else. What do these mysteries mean, this solemn pomp, the; presence of tho Countess Matilda ?' What can sho have to do with thorn ? Enlighten me, dear Roland, if it bo only with a false light. At present I have not even an ignis! fatuus to guide my judgment. Can it be; some unholy rite that wo witnessed ?' Our hero shook his head disapprovingly. 'The presence of Gregory and Matilda,' he observed, ' prove tho supposition to be a vain ono. I would stake my lifo upon their honor and faith.' ' And I mino,' added Otto,' on that of tho wpman.' Roland lookod surprised. ' You forgot,' added tho speaker, dryly, ' that I am tho nephew of a bishop.' A laugh followed. The friends began to feel amused at tho mystification and the confusion of ideas into which it bad plunged them. They both agreed as to the necessity of keoping their knowledge of what had transpired a secret within their own breasts. In the morning they were summoned to a council at tho private apartments of the pontiff, who informed them that Henry and his allies wore within three days' march of Canossa. Roland muttered something respecting the tardy Normans., 'They will bo here in time,' observed Gregory, 'to save or to avenge mo, it scarcely matters which; the blow is already struck —the enemy of the church defeated. He has received his death wound.' The two knights looked tho surprise respect forbade them to express. ' Tho holy father spoke figuratively,' said Matilda, who read the do.ubt of some torrible crime having been committed in the countenances of the young men. 'Ho wars not by such means. You will perform all that courage can achieve to defend Cs.iiossa ; tho (JTqr, Con£ aUa t,io_ ccc next page.

fortress is strong, well armed and provisioned,' she added, 'and in your absence I and my faithful seneschal will do our best to prepare against the assault.' ' Our absence, noble lady !' exclaimed 'Roland, greatly surprised. ' Our absence !' he repeated, 'and- with a life so indispensable to Christendom to guard ? 'No life, my son, is indispensable,' observed the pontiff, gravely, ' to Him to whom all things are possible —to Him who makcth the wrath of man to praise him.' 'The task will not detain you long,' resumed the countess. ' Judge of its importance by our selecting yourself and friend to execute it. It is to summon every man that can be spared from my vessels at Mola di Gaeta to the defence of Canossa, and to escort your former charge, the pilgrim, on board the ship of the commander. A day •will accomplish this. My letters are prepared, your escort ready. Before midnight you can return.' 'That trickster again,' thought Otto. ' Shall we never be rid of him ?' One hour later the two friends startedon their.expedition, grey pilgrim, still wearing his cowl, chatting and laughing by their side. There was something almost ludicrous in the half-suppressed anger and disgust of Otto and our hero, who both shrank, from him with that instinctive repugnance which true and loyal natures experience when placed in proximity with vile and venomous things. On reaching Mula di Gaeta, they found every preparation had been made to carry out the instructions of the Countess Matilda. Everyman that could be spared from_ the vessels, together with arms and provisions, were already landed, and tho largest ship to sail. Don'Guzman de Luiena, the commander, advanced courteously to receive the letter of his sovereign. Evidently the arrival had been expected. After perusing the missive, Roland, observed with surprise that tho stately old officer bowed profoundly to the pilgrim, then, stretching forth his hand, offered a courteous welcome to himself and his friend.

'I regret that I cannot accompany you to Canossa/ he observed. ' There will be warm work, no doubt; but the order of my sovereign lady are imperative, Andrea Colonna,' he added, ' is more fortunate ; but, then, he is a soldier, and, it is his right to remain. Still I cannot help envying him. I might havo been of use.'

'Perhaps tho service you arc about to undertake may be equally important,' said Otto, who for the last twelve hours had been on the tenter hooks of curiosity. ' Perhaps,' repeated Don Guzman, with a quiet smile. ' At least it shall bo performed as if it were. But my sovereign mistress needs no assurance on that point ; she knows me.'

Raising his steel morion, the speakers once more saluted courteously, and, proceeding the pilgrim, conducted him to a barge in waiting, into which ho handed his charge with the same ceremonious respect with which he had greeted him on his arrival. The two friends stood watching the barge till every man on it had mounted the sides of tho commander's own ship, when the sails were unfurled and it commenced floating out of the harbor. 'At last! 1 sighed the young lord of Zello, with an expression of intense satisfaction, 'we are fairly rid of him, thank Heaven. I acknowledge myself a debtor to the shrine of the kings at Cologne of a silver chalice. Should I fall in this singular warfare, Roland, you will geo that it is paid.' ' Religiously,' was tho reply. ' But why this foreboding ?' 'It is not a foreboding,' replied Otto. ' No doubt we shall both come out of it safely, but gratitude for our present deliverance. Another day would have choked mo.' ' With curiosity or the spleen ?' asked Roland. ' With both,' was the reply. ' But, there, lot us speak no more upon the subject. Tho mystery must ono day be cleared up, in justice to our patience and suffering.' Our hero could pot repress a smile at the word patience. They had little time for further speculation. Placing themselves at the head of their men, now considerably augmented, they started at once on their return to Canossa, where they arrived safely by nightfall. (to be CONTINUED,)