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Burlesques William Makepeace Thackeray

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181<br />

company of gallant knights after dinner." The noble Childe with manifest unwillingness<br />

quitted the room, and the Margrave, taking his lady's place at the head of the table,<br />

whispered to Sir Ludwig, "Hildebrandt will be here to-night to an evening-party, given in<br />

honor of your return from Palestine. My good friend—my true friend—my old companion<br />

in arms, Sir Gottfried! you had best see that the fiddlers be not drunk, and that the crumpets<br />

be gotten ready." Sir Gottfried, obsequiously taking his patron's hint, bowed and left the<br />

room.<br />

"You shall know all soon, dear Ludwig," said the Margrave, with a heart-rending look.<br />

"You marked Gottfried, who left the room anon?"<br />

"I did."<br />

"You look incredulous concerning his worth; but I tell thee, Ludwig, that yonder Gottfried<br />

is a good fellow, and my fast friend. Why should he not be! He is my near relation, heir to<br />

my property: should I" (here the Margrave's countenance assumed its former expression of<br />

excruciating agony),—"SHOULD I HAVE NO SON."<br />

"But I never saw the boy in better health," replied Sir Ludwig.<br />

"Nevertheless,—ha! ha!—it may chance that I shall soon have no son."<br />

The Margrave had crushed many a cup of wine during dinner, and Sir Ludwig thought<br />

naturally that his gallant friend had drunken rather deeply. He proceeded in this respect to<br />

imitate him; for the stern soldier of those days neither shrunk before the Paynim nor the<br />

punch-bowl: and many a rousing night had our crusader enjoyed in Syria with lion-hearted<br />

Richard; with his coadjutor, Godfrey of Bouillon; nay, with the dauntless Saladin himself.<br />

"You knew Gottfried in Palestine?" asked the Margrave.<br />

"I did."<br />

"Why did ye not greet him then, as ancient comrades should, with the warm grasp of<br />

friendship? It is not because Sir Gottfried is poor? You know well that he is of race as noble<br />

as thine own, my early friend!"<br />

"I care not for his race nor for his poverty," replied the blunt crusader. "What says the<br />

Minnesinger? 'Marry, that the rank is but the stamp of the guinea; the man is the gold.' And<br />

I tell thee, Karl of Godesberg, that yonder Gottfried is base metal."<br />

"By Saint Buffo, thou beliest him, dear Ludwig."

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