Conrad said: "Good sir, will you send hither the lord Ulrich ?" The stranger looked puzzled a moment, then said: "The lord Ulrich ?" "Yes--if you will be so good." The stranger called--"Wilhelm!" A young serving-man came, and the stranger said to him: "Is there a lord Ulrich among the guests ?" "I know none of the name, so please your honor." Conrad said, hesitatingly: "I did not mean a guest, but the lord of the castle, sir." The stranger and the servant exchanged wondering glances.

Then the former said: "I am the lord of the castle." "Since when, sir ?" "Since the death of my father, the good lord Ulrich more than forty years ago." Conrad sank upon a bench and covered his face with his hands while he rocked his body to and fro and moaned.

The stranger said in a low voice to the servant: "I fear me this poor old creature is mad.

Call some one." In a moment several people came, and grouped themselves about, talking in whispers.

Conrad looked up and scanned the faces about him wistfully.
Then he shook his head and said, in a grieved voice: "No, there is none among ye that I know.