The impetuous
horsemen faded away to the background. There was no answering smile on
Roland's face. He reached out and clasped the hand of the girl.
"Now, by the Three Kings!" he whispered, "I shall break my oath."
Hilda glanced up at him, frightened by his vehemence, wincing under his
iron grasp.
An unexpected sound interrupted the tension. The Archbishop had come to
a stand, and "Halt! Halt! Halt!" rang out the word along the line of
men, whose feet ceased to stir the dust of the road. The unexpected
sound was that of hearty laughter from the dignified and mighty Prince
of the Church.
"Forgive me, your Highness!" he cried, "but I laugh to think of the
countenances of my somber brothers, Treves and Mayence, when they learn
how sturdily you have kept your word with them. By the true Cross,
Prince Roland, although we wished you to marry her, we had no thought
that you would break into the Castle of Pfalz to win her hand. Ah, dear,
what a pity 'tis we grow old! The impetuousness of youth outweighs the
calculated wisdom of the three greatest prelates outside Rome.
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