last two years in her name I have been fighting the traitors and the scoundrels of society."
"In that case, I would advise you to change the object of your affections. She is not worthy of them. If I had not had proofs of this weakness, I would not have kept her so long."
"You are a cad and you will pay for that lie."
"Don't question me if you do not want me to tell you the truth, and do not lack respect for me if you don't want me to take away from you the means of showing it. Believe me that I am not the only one who has had your Saxon beauty. When she arrived here she was already the mistress of Dourlach who had taken her away from the Margrave of Baden with whom she had lived in the greatest intimacy."
Frederick was in a furious mood and was going to throw himself on the pile of arms on which the bandit was sitting to grab a sword, but Mersburg held him and was able to calm him after a few moments.
"Was that all you wanted to find out from me?" asked Krimpser with insolence.
"No," said Frederick, "I would like to know what has become of this woman whose fate interests me so much. Does she still languish in your infamous den or have you given her her liberty?"
"She is no longer here and I believe she is in Dalmatia."
"Has she gone to Venice?"
"Perhaps," said Krimpser, "but all your questions tire me. Soldiers, take these people away. You will give them back their arms at the foot of the mountain, and what becomes of them then is of no importance."
There was nothing to answer to this and everything took place as the bandit had ordered. The three men went on their road to Brixen where they spent the night.
There as one can easily imagine, Frederick was upset by the revelations he had just heard and he could not rest. He was bored by the stupid consolations of Pitreman and he was irritated by the reproaches of the count. He decided to take a walk in the neighborhood of the inn where they were spending the night and which was located on the edge of the town.
The night was very black, and the prince, who like most
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