The Romantica wept, declaring that only her brother-in-law, "the most knightly man in the world," could save her.

Karl gazed at him like a faithful hound trusting in his master.
These trying interviews were repeated on all his trips.

Then, on returning to the ranch, he would find the old man ill-humored, moody, looking fixedly ahead of him as though seeing invisible power and wailing, "It is my punishment--the punishment for my sins." The memory of the discreditable circumstances under which he had made Karl's acquaintance, before bringing him into his home, tormented the old centaur with remorse.

Some afternoons, he would have a horse saddled, going full gallop toward the neighboring village.

But he was no longer hunting hospitable ranches.