The moment he heard that you, my Lord, were visiting this
neighborhood, he begged me to tender to you, and to all your companions
or following, the hospitality of his Castle for so long as you might
honor him with your presence."
"The Count Palatine is very gracious, and I shall be glad to accept
shelter and refreshment."
"He would have been here to greet your Highness, but I was unable to
inform him at what hour you would arrive, so I waited for you myself,
and will be pleased to guide you to the gates of Gutenfels."
The conversation was interrupted by a great clatter of galloping horses,
descending the hill with reckless speed, and at its foot swinging round
into the main street of the town.
"Ha!" cried the amateur jailer, "here is the Count Palatine himself;"
and thus it is our fate to meet the fourth Elector of the Empire, who,
added to the three Archbishops, formed a quorum so potent that it could
elect or depose an Emperor at will.
The cavalry of the Count Palatine was composed of fifty fully-armed men,
and their gallop through the town roused the echoes of that ancient
bailiwick, which, together with the Castle, belonged to the Palatinate.
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