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MARGERY - VOLUME 8.

GEORG EBERS

Volume 8.

CHAPTER XIV.

Even our nearest of kin had laid our concerns on the shelf while day and
night alike it weighed on our souls and we made ready for a long time to
come of want and humble cheer. The Virgin be my witness that at that
time I was ready and willing to give up many matters which we were forced
to forego; howbeit we found out that it was easier to eat bread without
butter and no flesh meat than to give up certain other matters. As for
my jewels which Cousin Maud would not sell but pledged them to a
goldsmith I craved them not. Only a heart with a full great ruby which
I had ever worn as being my Hans' first lovetoken I would indeed have
been fain to keep yet whereas Master Kaden set a high price on the stone
I suffered him to break it out notwithstanding all that Cousin Maud and
Ann might say and kept only the gold case. It was hard likewise to send
forth the serving-folk and turn a deaf ear to their lamenting. Most of
the men when they heard how matters stood would gladly have stayed to
serve us for a lesser wage and each and all went about looking as if the
hail had spoilt their harvest; only old Susan held her head higher than
ever by reason that we had chosen her to share our portion during the
years of famine. Likewise we were glad to promise the old horse-keeper
who had served our father before us that we would care for him all his
days; he besought me eagerly that I would keep my own Hungarian palfrey
for to his mind a damsel of high degree with no saddle nor steed was as
a bird that cannot rise on its wings. Howbeit we found those who were
glad to buy the horse and never shall I forget the hour when for the
last time I patted the smooth neck of my Bayard the gift of my lost
lover and felt his shrewd little head leaning against my own. Uncle
Tucher bought him for his daughter Bertha and it was a comfort to me to
think that she was a soft kind hearted maid whom I truly loved. All
the silver gear likewise which we had inherited was pledged for money
and where it lay I knew not; yet of a truth the gifts of God taste better
out of a silver spoon than out of a tin one. Cousin Maud who would have
no half measures carried many matters of small worth to the pawn-broker;
yet all this grieved us but lightly although the sky hung dark over the
town by reason that other events at that time befell which gave us
better cheer.

The Magister as soon as he had tidings of our purpose came with right
good will to offer us his all and declared his intent to share our
simple way of life and this was no more than we had looked for albeit
we steadfastly purposed only to take from him so much as he might easily
make shift to spare. But it was indeed a joyful surprise when one right
dreary day Heinz Trardorf Herdegen's best-beloved companion in his
youth who had long kept far from the house came to speak with us of
Herdegen's concerns. He had now followed his father who was dead as
master in his trade and was already so well thought of that the Council
had trusted his skilled hands to build a new great organ for the Church
of Saint Laurence. I knew full well to be sure that when Herdegen had
come back from Paris in all his bravery he had cared but little for
Trardorf's fellowship; but I had marked many a time in church that his
eyes were wont to rest full lovingly on me.

And now when I gave him my hand and asked him what might be his will
at first he could scarce speak albeit he was a man of substance to whom
all folks would lift their hat. At last he made bold to tell me that he
had heard tidings of the sum demanded to ransom Herdegen and that he
inasmuch as that he dwelt in his own house and that his profits
maintained him in more than abundance could have no greater joy
than to pay the moneys he had by inheritance to ransom my brother.

And as the good fellow spoke the tears stood in his eyes and mine
likewise were about to flow; and albeit Cousin Maud here broke in and
to hide how deeply her heart was touched said well-nigh harshly that
without doubt the day was not far off when he would have a wife and
family and might rue the deed by which he had parted with his estate
never perchance to see it more I freely and gladly gave him my hand and
said to him that for my part his offering would be dearest to me of any
and that for sure Herdegen would be of the same mind. And a beam as of
sunshine overspread his countenance and while he shook my hand in
silence I could see that he hardly refrained himself from betraying more.
After this I came to know from his good mother that this offer of moneys
had cost him a great pang but only for this cause: that he had loved me
from his youth up and his noble soul forbid him to pay court to me when
he had in truth done me so great a service.

Still and in despite of these gleams of light I must ever remember
those three weeks as a full gloomy and sorrowful time.

Kubbeling's eldest son and his churlish helpmate had fared forth to
Venice instead of himself. They might not sail for the land of Egypt
and this chafed Uhlwurm sorely by reason that he was sure in himself
that he far better than his master or than any man on earth could do
good service there to Ann on whom his soul was set more than on any
other of us.

Towards the end of the third week we rode forth to spend a few days again
at the lodge and there we found Young Kubbeling well nigh healed of his
fever and Eppelein's tongue ready to wag and to tell us of his many
adventures without overmuch asking. Howbeit save what concerned his own
mishaps he had little to say that we knew not already.

The Saracen pirate who had boarded the galleon from Genoa which was
carrying him and his lord to Cyprus had parted him from Herdegen and Sir
Franz and sold him for a slave in Egypt. There had he gone through many
fortunes till at last in Alexandria he had one day met Akusch. At
that time my faithful squire's father was yet in good estate and he
forthwith bought Eppelein who was then a chattel of the overseer of the
market to the end that the fellow might help his son in the search for
Herdegen. This search they had diligently pursued and had discovered
my brother and Sir Franz together in the armory of the Sultan's Palace
in the fort over against Cairo whither they had come after they had both
worked at the oars in great misery for two years on board a Saracen
galley.

But then Herdegen had made proof in some jousting among the young
Mamelukes of how well skilled he was with the sword and thereby he had
won such favor that they were fain to deliver sundry letters which he
wrote to us into the care of the Venice consul. Whereas he had no
answer he had set it down to our lack of diligence at home till at last
he was put on the right track by Akusch and it was plainly shown that
those letters had never reached us and that by Ursula's malice. To
follow up these matters Akusch had afterwards betaken himself again to
Alexandria; notwithstanding by this time his father had fallen on evil
days. And behold on the very evening after their return as they were
passing along by the side of the Venice Fondaco whither they had gone to
see the leech who attended the Consul--having heard that he was a German
by birth--they were aware of a loud outcry hard by and presently beheld
a wounded man whom they forthwith knew for Kunz.

At first they believed that their eyes deceived them; and that it should
have been these two of all men who found their master's brother lying
in his blood I must ever deem a miracle. To be sure any man from the
West who was fain to seek another in the land of Egypt must first make
enquiry here at the Fondaco.

A few hours later Kunz was in bed and well tended in the house of
Akusch's mother and it was on their return to Cairo to speak with my
eldest brother of these matters that Eppelein was witness to Ursula's
vile betrayal and the vast demand of the Sultan. Then my brother by the
help of some who showed him favor had that letter conveyed to Akusch of
which Eppelein had been robbed hard by Pillenreuth. More than this the
good fellow had not to tell.

As I on my ride home through the wood turned over in my mind who might
be the wise and trusty friend to whom we could confide our case and our
fears if Kubbeling should leave us in the lurch verily I found no
reply. If indeed Cousin Gotz--that wise and steadfast wayfaring man
rich with a thousand experiences of outlandish life--if he were willing
to make common cause with his Little Red-riding-hood and the companion
of his youth! But a terrible oath kept him far away and where in the
wide world might he be found?

Ann likewise had much to cause her heaviness and I thanked the Saints
that I was alone with Eppelein when he told me that his dear lord was
sorely changed albeit having seen him only from afar he could scarce
tell me wherein that change lay.

Thus we rode homewards in silence through the evening dusk and as we
came in sight of the lights of the town all my doubting and wandering
fears vanished on a sudden in wonderment as to who should be the first
person we might meet within the gate inasmuch as Cousin Maud had ever
set us the unwise example of considering such a meeting as a sign or
token or Augury.

Now as soon as we had left the gate behind us lo a lantern was lifted
and we saw by the light twinkling dimly through the horn instead of old
Hans Heimvogel's red sottish face a sweet and lovely maiden's; by
reason that he had fallen into horrors imagining that mice were rushing
over him so that his fair granddaughter Maria was doing duty for him.
And I greeted her right graciously inasmuch as Cousin Maud held it to be
a good sign when a smiling maid should be the first to meet her as she
came into the city gates.

As for Ann she scarce marked that it was Maria; and when after we were
come home I spoke of this token of good promise she asked me how in
these evil days I could find heart to think of such matters; and she
sighed and cried: "Oh Margery indeed I am heavy at heart! For three
long years have I taken patience and with a right good will. But the
end meseems is further than ever and he who should have helped us is
disabled or ever he has stirred a finger and even my lord Cardinal's
home-coming is put off albeit all men know that Herdegen is as a man in
a den of lions--and I my spirit sinks within me. And even my wise
grandmother can give me no better counsel than to 'wait patiently' and
yet again 'Wait' . . ."

Whereupon Susan who had taken off from us our wet hoods broke in with:
"Aye Mistress Ann and that has ever from the days of Adam and Eve been
the best of all counsel. For life all through is but waiting for the
end; and even when we have taken the last Sacrament and our eyes are dim
in death then most of all must we take Patience waiting for that we
shall find beyond the grave. Here below! By my soul I myself grew grey
waiting in vain for one who long years ago gave me this ring. Others had
better luck; yet if the priest had wed us would that have made an end of
Patience? I trow not! It might have been for weal or it might have been
for woe. A wife may go to mass every day in the month. But is that
an end of Patience? Will the storks bring her a babe or no? Will it be
a boy or a maid? And if the little one should come after the wife has
told her beads till her fingers are sore what will the waiting babe turn
out? Such an one as Junker Herdegen grows up to be the delight of every
eye and heart and if that make less need of Patience meseems we know
full well! And Mistress Waldstromer out in the forest a lady she of
stern stuff she could tell a tale; and I say Mistress Ann if old Dame
Pernhart's answer sinks into your heart God's blessing rest on it!--I am
waiting as you are waiting. We each and all are waiting for one; if by
the merciful help of the Saints he ever comes home yet never dream
Mistress Ann that Patience will be out of court."

And with such comfort as this the old woman hung our garments to dry
while we bowed our heads and went up-stairs.

Up in the guest-chamber we heard loud voices and as we went in a strange
sight met our eyes. Uncle Christian and Doctor Holzschuher were sitting
face to face with Cousin Maud and she was laughing so heartily that she
could not control herself but flung up her arms and then dropped them on
her knees for all the world as she had taught us children to play at a
game of "Fly away little birds."

When she marked my presence she forgot to greet me and cried to me well
nigh breathless:

"A drink of wine Margery and a morsel of bread. I am ready to split--I
shall die of laughing!"

Then when I heard my good Godfather Christian's hearty laughing and
saw that Master Holzschuher had but just ceased I was fain to laugh
likewise and even Ann albeit she had but now been so sad joined in.
This lasted a long while till we learned the cause of such unwonted
mirth; and this was of such a kind as to afford great comfort and new
assurance and we were bound to crave our good friends' pardon for having
deemed them lacking in diligence. Master Holzschuher had indeed made the
best use of the time to move every well-to-do man in Nuremberg who had
known our departed father and the Abbots of the rich convents and many
more to give of their substance as they were able to redeem Herdegen
from the power of the heathen; and the other twain had worked wonders
likewise in Augsburg.

But that which had moved Cousin Maud to mirth was that my Uncle Christian
had related how that he and Master Pernhart finding old Tetzel Ursula's
father at Augsburg had agreed together to make him pay a share towards
Herdegen's ransom; and my godfather's face beamed again now with
contentment in every feature as he told us by what means he had won the
churlish old man over to the good cause.

Whereas the three good gentlemen had considered that all of Jost Tetzel's
great possessions must presently fall to his daughter and that it would
be a deed pleasing to God to bring some chastisement on that traitorous
quean they had laid a plot against her father; and it was for that alone
that Uncle Christian who could ill endure the ride in the winter-season
had set forth with Master Pernhart for Augsburg. And there he had
achieved a rare masterpiece of skill painting Dame Ursula's reprobate
malice in such strong colors to her father that Master Pernhart was in
fear lest he should bring upon himself another fit. And he had
furthermore sworn to lay the whole matter before the Emperor with whom
as all men knew he enjoyed much privilege inasmuch as he had been as it
were his host when his Majesty held his court at Nuremberg. Ursula
to be sure was no subject now of his gracious Majesty's; yet would he
Christian Pfinzing know no rest till the Emperor had compelled her
father Jost Tetzel to cut off from her who had married an Italian the
possessions she counted on from a German city.

Thereupon Pernhart had spoken in calm but weighty words threatening that
his brother the Cardinal would visit the heaviest wrath of the Pope on
the old man and his daughter unless he were ready and willing to make
amends and atonement for his child's accursed sin whereby a Christian
man had fallen into the hands of the godless heathen. And when at last
they had conquered the churlish old man's hardness of heart and stiff-
necked malice they drove him to a strange bargain. Old Tetzel was
steadfast in his intention to give up as little as he might of his
daughter's inheritance while his tormentors raised their demands and
claimed a hundred gulden and a hundred gulden more up to many hundreds
which Tetzel was forced to yield; till at last he gave his bond signed
and sealed to renounce all his daughter's estate and to add thereto two
thousand gulden of his own moneys and to hold the sum in readiness to
ransom Herdegen.

Thus at one stroke all our fears touching the moneys were at an end;
and when the notary showed us the parchment roll on which each one had
set down the sum he would give we were struck dumb; and when we reckoned
it all together the sum was far greater than that which had cost us so
many sleepless nights.

By this time we scarce could read for tears and our souls were so moved
to thankfulness as we marked the large sums set forth against the names
of the noble families and of the convent treasurers that we had never
felt so great a love for our good city and the dear staunch friends who
dwelt therein. Nay and many simple folk had promised to pay somewhat of
their modest store; and although my soul overflowed with thankful joy
over the great sums to be given by our kith and kin I rejoiced no less
over the five pounds of farthings promised by a cordwainer whom we had
holpen some years ago when he had been sick and in debt.

And then was there hearty embracing and kissing and the men as was
befitting after a deed so well done craved to drink. Cousin Maud
hastened with all zeal to do honor to friends and guests so dear; but as
she reached the door she stood still as in doubt and signed to me so
that I perceived that somewhat had gone wrong. And so indeed it had
inasmuch as our silver vessels down to the very least cup had gone to
the silversmith in pledge and Uncle Tucher the Councillor who had
bought my palfrey had also been fain to have all our old wine whereof
many goodly rows of casks and jars sealed with pitch lay in our
cellars. A few hams still hung in the chimney by good luck; and there
were chickens and eggs in plenty; but of all else little enough even of
butter. When Cousin Maud set forth all this with a right lamentable face
I could not refrain my mirth and I promised her that if she could send
up a few dainty dishes from the kitchen I would make shift to please our
beloved guests. That as for the wine I would take that upon myself and
no Emperor need be ashamed of our Venice glasses. And herewith I sent
her down stairs; but I then frankly confessed to our friends how matters
stood; and when they had heard me now laughing heartily and now in
amazement and shaking their heads I enquired of Doctor Holzschuher as a
man of law how I might deal with the wine inasmuch as it had already
found a purchaser? Hereupon arose much jocose argument and discussion
and at last the learned notary and doctor of laws declared that he held
it to be his duty as adviser to the Council and administrator of the
Schopper estates to taste and prove with all due caution whether the
price promised by Tucher and not yet paid down were not all too little
for the liquor inasmuch as his clients being but women-folk had no
skill in the good gifts of Bacchus and could not know their value. To
abstain from such testing he held would be a breach of duty and whereas
he did not trust his own skill alone he must call upon Master Christian
Pfinzing as a man of ripe experience and Master Councillor Pernhart
who as brother to a great prelate had doubtless drunk much good liquor
in due form to proceed with him to the Schoppers' cellar and there to
mark those vessels or jars out of which the wine should be drawn for the
testing. Moreover to satisfy all the requirements of the case a
serving-man should be sent to call upon Master Tucher as the purchaser
to be present in his own person at the ceremony. Inasmuch as it yet
lacked two hours of midnight he would without doubt be found in the
gentlemen's tavern; and it might be enjoined on the messenger to add
that if Master Tucher were fain to bring with him one skilled in such
matters to bear him witness on his part such an one would be made right
welcome at the Schopperhof.

Thus within a quarter of an hour the three worthy gentlemen and Ann and
I were seated with the winejars before us they having chosen for
themselves of the best our cellar could afford; and when the meats which
Cousin Maud sent up were set on the table albeit there were but earthen
plates and crocks and no silver glittered on the snow-white cloth yet
God's good gifts lacked not their savor.

And presently Uncle Tucher came in and with him as his skilled witness
old Master Loffelholz; and when they likewise had sat down with us and
when we had bidden the Magister to join us there was such hearty and
joyful emptying of glasses and friendly discourse that Master Tucher
declared that the happy spirit of our father the singer still dwelt
within our walls. Howbeit Ann had to do her duty as watcher over my
uncle more often that evening than for a long time past.

In the course of that right joyful supper many weighty matters were
discussed and the gentlemen meseemed were greatly more troubled than
Cousin Maud or I that we should so hastily have parted with sundry
matters which should not be lacking in a house of good family but which
as we had learned by experience were in no wise needful in life. And
many a jesting word was spoken concerning our poor platters and dishes
and tin spoons and empty stables. The bargain over the wine was
declared to be null and void and my cousin took heart to assure the
gentlemen in right seemly speech that now again she was happy when she
knew that what she had set before such worshipful and welcome guests was
indeed our own and not another's.

By the time of their departing it was nearer to cockcrow than to
midnight; and when on the morrow I went into the chamber in the
morning to look forth into the street the sun was shining brightly in a
blue sky. I minded me with silent thanksgiving of all the good cheer
yestereve had brought us and of the wisdom and faithfulness of our good
friends. Many a wise and a witty word uttered over their wine came back
to me then; and I was wondering to myself what new plot had been brewing
between my godfather and Uncle Tucher whereas I had marked them laying
their heads together when behold the stable-lad from the Tuchers'
coming down the street leading my own dear bayhorse; and as I saw him
closer I beheld that his mane and flowing tail were plaited up with fine
red ribbons. He stood still in front of our door and when I flew down
to greet the faithful beast the lad gave me a letter wherein nought was
written save these Latin words in large letters: "AMICITIA FIDEI" which
is to say: "Friendship to Fidelity."

Thus the pinch and sacrifice were on a sudden ended; and albeit a snow-
storm ere long came down on us yet the sunshine in my bosom was still as
bright as though Spring had dawned there in the December season and all
care and fear were banished.

CHAPTER XV.

I was about to make ready to seek her when I was stopped first by a
message from the forest bidding me albeit I had scarce left the lodge
to return thither no later than on the morrow; and next by an unlooked-
for guest who had for long indeed been lost to sight. This was Lorenz
Abenberger the apothecary's son erewhile a companion of Herdegen in his
youth and he who after he had beguiled the other pueri to dig for
treasure had been turned out of the school. Since those days when
likewise he had cast nativities for us maidens and many a time amused us
with his magic arts we had no knowledge of him but that after his
parents' death he had ceased to ply the apothecary's trade and had
given himself up to the study of Alchemy. If folks spoke truth he had
already discovered the philosopher's stone or was nigh to doing so: but
notwithstanding that many learned men and among them the Magister had
assured me that such a thing was by no means beyond the skill of man
Lorenz Abenberger for certain had not attained his end inasmuch as that
when he appeared in my presence his aspect was rather that of a beggar
than of a potent wise-head at whose behest lead and copper are transmuted
into gold.

He had heard of the great sum needed for Herdegen's ransom and he now
came to assure me of the warm friendship he had ever cherished for his
old school-mate and that he had it in his power to create the means of
releasing him from bondage. Then marking that I gazed pitifully on his
thread-bare meagre and by no means clean raiment whence there came a
sour drug-like smell he broke into a foul laugh and said that to be
sure it would seem strange that so beggarly a figure should make bold to
promise so great a treasure; howbeit he stood to his word. So sure as
night follows day he could reach the goal for which he had consumed all
his father's and mother's estate nay all he had in the world if he
...

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