But this Duke Otho, wherefore has he not been crowned ?" "Because," said the man, "the Duke Casimir, they say, hath been foully murdered, and that through the witchcraft of a woman.

So by our laws, till the murderer is punished, the young Duke may not be crowned." By this time we were at the entering in of the long, dull mass of building, which during most of my boyhood had stood unoccupied, owing to the quarrel between Bishop Peter and the Duke.

Our guide led us unchallenged into the quadrangle, and then abruptly vanished without pausing to bid us good-day, or even deigning to accept the modest gratuity which my master, the learned Doctor, had in his front pouch ready for him.
As for me, I stood holding the horses and looking about for any of my own quality who might show me the way to the stables.
Presently a long, lean, lathy youth slouched out of one of the gloomy entries.

He stood amazed at the sight of me.

I went to him to ask where I might bestow the horses, now standing weary-footed, hanging their heads after the long journey and the toil of the final ascent from the plain.
"Will you fight, outlander ?" were the first words of my lathy friend from the entry.