A chilly anticipation of the question struck him, just as the words escaped his lips, and his cheek tingled as the blood came creeping against it.

But, to his great relief, his father, without noticing his confusion, turned to a soldier who stood behind him, and thus addressed him: "Mount your best horse and ride for life and limb to Stramen Castle! Here!" continued the baron, taking a fold of parchment from his breast, as the man, prompt to obey without question or hesitation, bowed and was going; "this for his highness, the King of Arles.

Guard it with your life from the enemies of the duke, and if you meet the serfs of Stramen, proclaim your errand.

Away! spare neither spur nor rein!" cried the knight, as the man dashed fearlessly down the hill.
Rodolph of Suabia was scarcely less anxious to see the Lord of Hers, than the latter had been to acquaint the duke with Gregory's rigorous measures.

He felt assured that the infamous conventicle at Worms must have been already met by the Pope, and he thirsted for news from Rome.
He knew that the Lord of Hers would be first in possession of the facts, from his position along the Rhine; and anxious not to lose a moment in executing his plans, which were to be regulated by the action of the Holy See, he could scarcely be prevailed upon to defer till daylight his return to Zurich by the Castle of Hers.
The baron's envoy had not accomplished half the distance between the rival castles, before he met the duke, unattended, as was his wont, bearing rapidly down upon him.