Page:Zawis and Kunigunde (1895).djvu/78

 Having dismissed Valens, Rudolph’s attention was at once engaged by his son Albert, Bishop Bruno, Seyfried von Ehrenberg, his brother Biernhard von Wolkiersdorf and Milota of Dedicz. These persons had been engaged in earnest conversation and had cast very frequent and angry glances towards the group containing Lord Zawis, Lord Boppo, the Chancellor, Solomon and Duke Nicolas, joined at a late hour by Otto the Tall of Brandenburg.

“Your highness may well argue some design of importance being fabricated,” observed Bruno. “I liked not the tone of the infidel Jew’s harangue this evening, although I think I divine your highness’ purpose in eliciting it.”

“Be at peace, good bishop,” replied Rudolph half gaily, and with that sardonic humor that he could assume; “that flock consists not of birds of one species, or they might fly together. There are too many varieties there to form one covey.”

“It is strange indeed that such apparent community of sentiment should be observable among men of such diverse origin and station,” observed Albert. “I like not these confidential associations. Mischief is easily brewed in such an earnest conclave, impromptu though it may have been.”

“Nicolas fought most viciously against us,” observed Seyfried von Ehrenberg, “and I cannot accept his sudden conversion to our side. But for his fierce resistance his tyrannical father must have fallen much earlier.”

“How know you that?” sharply inquired Rudolph.