Page:Zodiac stories by Blanche Mary Channing.pdf/302

Rh had come caracoling up to the castle on a piebald pony, and, being admitted to the presence of Lord Conrad, who was in a dull mood, had charmed him with music and merry talk, and straightway won the boy-Duke's impulsive heart. Conrad was young, and the castle lonely and dark and grim, and Ludwig the minstrel knew the way to make time pass right merrily.

So Conrad kept him from day to day, and the days turned to weeks, and still there was nothing said of departure.

Dolf had distrusted the gay stranger from the first. He was too generous to harbor a mean jealousy, and when, on his showing his dislike of Ludwig on one occasion, his master had charged him with such a feeling, his quick temper had led him to make a reply which greatly offended the Duke's pride.

Thus a coldness had fallen between the two which seemed likely to last.