The Sword Maker | Page 5

the delegation separated into
units, and each went his own way. Roland, stepping out of the shadow,
accosted the rearmost man.
"Pardon me, mein Herr," he said, "but may I ask what ceremony is this
in which you have been taking part?"
The person accosted looked with some alarm at his questioner, but the
moonlight revealed a face singularly gentle and winning; a face that in
spite of its youth inspired instinctive confidence. The tone, too, was

very persuasive, and seemed devoid even of the offense of curiosity.
"'Tis no ceremony," said the delegate, "but merely the return home of
our friend, Herr Goebel."
"Has he, then, been on a journey?"
"Sir, you are very young, and probably unacquainted with Frankfort."
"I have lived here all my life," said Roland. "I am a native of
Frankfort."
"In that case," replied the other, "you show yourself amazingly ignorant
of its concerns; otherwise you would know that Herr Goebel is one of
the leading merchants of the city, a man honorable, enlightened, and
energetic--an example to us all, and one esteemed alike by noble or
peasant. We honor ourselves in honoring him."
"Herr Goebel should be proud of such commendation, mein Herr,
coming I judge, from one to whom the words you use might also be
applied."
The merchant bowed gravely at this compliment, but made no remark
upon it.
"Pardon my further curiosity," continued the young man, "but from
whence does Herr Goebel return?"
"He comes from prison," said the other. "He made the mistake of
thinking that our young Prince would prove a better ruler than his
father, our Emperor, and but that the Archbishops feared a riot if they
went to extremes, Herr Goebel ran great danger of losing his life rather
than his liberty."
"What you say, mein Herr, interests me very much, and I thank you for
your courtesy. My excuse for questioning you is this. I am moved by a
desire to enter the employ of such a man as Herr Goebel, and I purpose
calling upon him to-morrow, if you think he would be good enough to

receive me."
"He will doubtless receive you," replied the other, "but I am quite
certain your mission will fail. At the present moment none of us are
engaging clerks, however competent. Ignorant though you are of civic
affairs, you must be aware that all business is at a standstill in Frankfort.
Although Herr Goebel has said nothing about it, I learn from an
unquestionable source that he himself is keeping from starvation all his
former employees, so I am sure he would not take on, for a stranger,
any further obligation."
"Sir, I am well acquainted with the position of affairs, and it is to
suggest a remedy that I desire speech with Herr Goebel. I do not
possess the privilege of acquaintance with any merchant in this city, so
one object of my accosting you was to learn, if possible, how I might
secure some note of introduction to the merchant that would ensure his
receiving me, and obtain for me a hearing when once I had been
admitted to his house."
If Roland expected the stranger to volunteer such a note, he quite
underestimated the caution of a Frankfort merchant.
"As I said before, you will meet with no difficulty so far as entrance to
the house is concerned. May I take it that you yourself understand the
art of writing?"
"Oh yes," replied Roland.
"Then indite your own letter of introduction. Say that you have evolved
a plan for the redemption of Frankfort, and Herr Goebel will receive
you without demur. He will listen patiently, and give a definite decision
regarding the feasibility of your project. And now, good sir, my way
lies to the left. I wish you success, and bid you good-night."
The stranger left Roland standing at the intersection of two streets, one
of which led to the Saalhof. They had been approaching the Romerberg,
or market-place, the center of Frankfort, when the merchant so
suddenly ended the conversation and turned aside. Roland remembered

that no Jew was allowed to set foot in the Romerberg, and now
surmised the nationality of his late companion. The youth proceeded
alone through the Romerberg, and down directly to the river, reaching
the spot where the huge Saalhof faced its flood. Roland saw that triple
guards surrounded the Emperor's Palace. The mob had been cleared
away, but no one was allowed to linger in its precincts, and the youth
was gruffly ordered to take himself elsewhere, which he promptly did,
walking up the Saalgasse, and past the Cathedral, until he came once
more into the Fahrgasse, down which he proceeded, pausing for
another glance at Goebel's house, until he came to the bridge, where he
stood with arms resting