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 to my insufficient remedies, and imperfect skill. Who can be equal to all the dreadful maladies around? The unhappy events at Fürstenberg and at Prague compel me to hasten to Moravia.” Boppo looked as if the intelligence had not reached him. “We are not in the direct line of commerce or of travel,” he said; “and we prefer associations with the East rather than with the West.”

Solomon narrated the occurrences leading to and, including the imprisonment of Zawis; and the alleged reasons for it so far as they had been made public at court. Boppo looked at first calm, then grave, and at last severe.

“Your judgment seems correct,” at length he said. “These unkingly and unknightly proceedings originate at Vienna. Wenzel is surrounded by vicious councilors. Personally he has been neglected in order that he might be the pliant agent that he now is. A truer knight than Lord Zawis I have not known; and the emperor has felt his hand. Chivalry repudiates, and honor abhors such proceedings. I have rejected much, I trust, of the evil principle that has invaded us.

“Should I find clear proof, after mature investigation, that Rudolph has countenanced or now fails to condemn such treachery to a gallant knight, who wore his escutcheon with more grace and more distinction than himself, I shall feel compelled to renounce and cast off forever the last token that associates me with Rudolph. I bear no commission from King Ladislaus, and I would bear none should