The maiden awoke, and as she opened her eyes a falcon came gently sailing down from the sky and perched upon her shoulder.

Seeing that he wore a tiny bell like the one she had noticed in her dream, Else unfastened it; and as the falcon flew away, she hung it on her rosary.
A few days later Else was in prison, for Frederick of Telramund had accused her of a great crime.

He said that she had received the attentions of a man beneath her, or, according to another version, that she had been guilty of the murder of her brother.

Henry the Fowler, Emperor of Germany, hearing of this accusation, came to Cleves, where, as the witnesses could not agree, he ordered that the matter should be settled by a judicial duel.
[Illustration: ARRIVAL OF LOHENGRIN .-- Pixis.] Frederick of Telramund, proud of his strength, challenged any man to prove him mistaken at the point of the sword.

But no champion appeared to fight for Else, who, kneeling in her cell, beat her breast with her rosary, until the little silver bell attached to it rang loudly as she fervently prayed, "O Lord, send me a champion." The faint tinkling of the bell floated out of the window, and was wafted away to Montsalvatch.