A MEDIMVAL ROMANCE: 177 



■were numbered. Poor Conrad had begged, as for his very life, that he might be 

 spared the misery of sitting in judgment upon his cousin's crinie, but it did not 

 avail. 



The saddest heart in all that great assemblage was in Conrad's breast. 



The gladdest was in his father's, for, unknown to his daughter " Conrad," the old 

 Baron Klugenstein was come, and was among the crowd of nobles triumphant in 

 "the swelling fortunes of his house. 



; After the heralds had made due proclamation and the other preliminaries had 

 followed, the venerable Lord Chief-Justice said — " Prisoner, stand forth !" 

 ' The unhappy princess rose, and stood unveiled before the vast multitude. The 

 XiOxA Chief-Justice continued — 



' " Most noble lady, before the great judges of this realm it hath been charged 

 ^nd proven that out of holy wedlock your Grace hath given birth unto a child, and 

 by our ancient law the penalty is death excepting in one sole contingency, whereof 

 his Grace the acting Duke, our good Lord Conrad, will advertise you in his solen^n 

 sentence now ; wherefore give heed." 1 



: Conrad stretched forth his reluctant sceptre, and in the self-same moment the 

 womanly heart beneath his robe yearned pityingly toward the doomed prisonejr, 

 ^nd th6 tears came into his eyes. He opened his lips to speak, but the Lord Chief- 

 Justice said quickly — 



" Not there, your Grace, not there ! It is not lawful to pronounce judgment upon 

 iiny of the diical line save from the ducal throne!" 



: A shudder went to the heart of poor Conrad, and a tremor shook the iron frame 

 of his old father likewise. Conrad had not been crowned — dared he profane 

 ■fte throne? He hesitated and turned pale with fear. But it must be done. 

 Wondering eyes were already upon him. They would be suspicious eyes if he 

 hesitated longer. He ascended the throne. Presently he stretched forth the 

 sceptre again, and said — 



" Prisoner, in the name of our sovereign Lord Ulrich, Duke of Brandenburgh, I 

 proceed to the solemn duty that hath devolved upon me. Give heed to my words. 

 By the ancient law of the land, except you produce the partner of your guilt and 

 •iieliverTiirriup to the executioner you must surely die. Embrace this opportunity 

 — save yourself while yet you may. I^ame the father of your child !" 



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