This would certainly lead the Swiss and others to investigate his own past, and the Pursuivant at Arms excluded from joust and tourney whoever "injured trade or merchant." What would not his enemy, who was in such high favour with the Emperor, do to compass his destruction?
But--and at the thought he uttered a low imprecation--how could he ride to the joust if his father-in-law closed his strong box which, moreover, was said to be empty?
If the old man was forced to declare himself bankrupt Siebenburg's creditors would instantly seize his splendid chargers and costly suits of armour, scarcely one half of which were paid for.

How much money he needed as security in case of defeat! His sole property was debts.

Yet the thought seemed like an illumination--his wife's valuable old jewels could probably still be saved, and she might be induced to give him part of the ornaments for the tournament.

He need only make her understand that his honour and that of the twins were at stake.

Would that Heaven might spare his boys such hours of anxiety and self-accusation! But what was this?
Was he deluding himself?
Did his over-excited imagination make him hear a death knell pealing for his honour and his hopes, which must be borne to their grave?
Yet no! All the citizens and peasants, men and women, great and small, who thronged the salt market, which he had just entered, raised their heads to listen with him; for from every steeple at once rang the mournful death knell which announced to the city the decease of an "honourable" member of the Council, a secular or ecclesiastical prince.