On that night, as it may be imagined, the gates of the Castle of Cleves
were not shut. Everybody was free to come in. Wine-butts were broached
in all the courts; the pickled meat prepared in such lots for the siege
was distributed among the people, who crowded to congratulate their
beloved sovereign on his victory; and the Prince, as was customary with
that good man, who never lost an opportunity of giving a dinner-party,
had a splendid entertainment made ready for the upper classes, the whole
concluding with a tasteful display of fireworks.
In the midst of these entertainments, our old friend the Count of
Hombourg arrived at the castle. The stalwart old warrior swore by Saint
Bugo that he was grieved the killing of the Rowski had been taken out
of his hand. The laughing Cleves vowed by Saint Bendigo, Hombourg could
never have finished off his enemy so satisfactorily as the unknown
knight had just done.
But who was he? was the question which now agitated the bosom of these
two old nobles. How to find him--how to reward the champion and restorer
of the honor and happiness of Cleves? They agreed over supper that he
should be sought for everywhere. Beadles were sent round the principal
cities within fifty miles, and the description of the knight advertised,
in the Journal de Francfort and the Allgemeine Zeitung.
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