"Go back, Hugo! 'Tis my only son--my successor--the fifteenth of our line, my lord!" he said to the Duke in excuse.
But I cried all the more: "Save the maid's life, or I will fling myself headlong.

By Jesu-Mary, I swear it!" For I thought that was the name of one great saint.
Then my father, who ever doted on me, bent his knee before his master: "A boon!" he cried, "my first and last, Duke Casimir--this maid's life for my son!" But the Duke hung on the request a long, doubtful moment.
"Gottfried Gottfried," he said, even reproachfully, "this is not well done of you, to make me go back on my word." "Take the man's life," said my father--"take the man's life for the child's and the fulfilling of your word, and by the sword of St.Peter I will smite my best!" "Aye," said the man with the babe, "even so do, as the Red Axe says.
Save the young child, but bid him smite hard at this abased neck.

Ye have taken all, Duke Casimir, take my life.

But save the young child alive!" So, without further word or question, they did so, and the man who had carried the child kissed her once and separated gently the baby hands that clung about his neck.

Then he handed her to my father.
"Be gracious to Helene," he said; "she was ever a sweet babe." Now by this time I was down hammering on the door of the Red Tower, which had been locked on the outside.
Presently some one turned the key, and so soon as I got among the men I darted between their legs.
"Give me the babe!" I cried; "the babe is mine; the Duke himself hath said it." And my father gave her to me, crying as if her heart would break.
Nevertheless she clung to me, perhaps because I was nearer her own age.
Then the dismal procession of the condemned passed us, followed by my father, who strode in front with his axe over his shoulder, and the laughing and jesting men-at-arms bringing up the rear.
As I stood a little aside for them to pass, the hand of the man fell on my head and rested there a moment.
"God's blessing on you, little lad!" he said.