CHAPTER XXXV.
Siegfried de Löwe was just ready to start for Malborg when the post-boy brought him unexpectedly a letter from Rotgier with news from the court of Mazovia. This news moved the old Knight of the Cross to the quick. First of all it was evident from the letter that Rotgier had presented and managed the case against Yurand with excellent skill before Prince Yanush. Siegfried smiled while reading how Rotgier had made a further demand that the prince should give Spyhov in feudal tenure as satisfaction for wrongs done the Order. But the second part of the letter contained unexpected and less desirable tidings. Rotgier wrote in addition that, to show more convincingly that the Order was innocent of seizing Yurand's daughter, he had thrown down his gauntlet before the knights of Mazovia, challenging every doubter to the judgment of God; that is to a combat before the whole court. "No one took up the gauntlet," continued Rotgier, "for all knew that Yurand's own letter testified in our favor, hence they feared the justice of God, but just then appeared a young man whom we saw at the hunting-lodge; he took up the gauntlet. Therefore be not astonished, wise and pious brother, that I delay in returning, for, since I gave the challenge myself, I must accept combat. And, since I did this for the glory of the Order, I hope that the Grand Master will not take the act ill of me, and that you will not,—you whom I honor and love as with the heart of a son. My opponent is a mere stripling, and combat to me, as you know, is no novelty, hence I shall shed this blood easily to the glory of the Order, and especially with the aid of Christ the Lord, who is surely more concerned for those who bear his cross than for some Yurand, or for the wrongs of one paltry wench from Mazovia."
The news that Yurand's daughter was married astonished old Siegfried most of all. At the thought that a new enemy, terrible and vengeful, might settle in Spyhov, a certain alarm seized even that aged comtur. "It is clear," said the old man to himself, "that he will not forego revenge; all the
