human
Where suppose you Sir Max is--and Sir Karl? asked Yolanda, with a touch of anger in her voice.
gpt
Why has he not come? I have been watching but have not seen him--them. He places little value on our invitation to slight it by half an hour. I am of half a mind not to see him when he comes.
human
Your uncle is downstairs under the arbor, Yolanda, said Frau Castleman, gently.
gpt
He will tell you, sweet one, why Sir Max is not here.
human
Well, uncle, where are our guests?
gpt
They are not at the inn, and have not been there since nearly a fortnight ago,
human
Gone! cried Yolanda, aflame with sudden anger.
gpt
He gave me his word he would not go. I'm glad he's gone, and I hope I may never see his face again. I deemed his word inviolate, and now he has broken it.
human
Do not judge Sir Max too harshly, said Castleman;
gpt
Blessed Mother, forgive me! cried Yolanda, sinking back upon a settle. After a long silence she continued:
human
Two weeks ago! That was a few days after the trouble at the bridge.
gpt
What trouble?
human
I'll tell you, uncle, and you, tante. Twonette already knows of it, answered Yolanda.
gpt
Less than three weeks ago I was with Sir Max near the moat bridge. It was dark--after night--
human
Yolanda!
gpt
Yes, uncle, I know I ought not to have been there, but I was,
human
Alone with Sir Max after dark?
gpt
Yes, alone with him, after it was _very_ dark, answered Yolanda.
human
I had met him several times before.
gpt
Uncle, I know and admit the truth of all you would say, so don't say it. While I was standing very near to Sir Max, uncle, very near, Count Calli came upon us and offered me gross insult. Sir Max, being unarmed, knocked the fellow down, and in the struggle that ensued Count Calli's arm was broken. I heard the bone snap, then Calli, swearing vengeance, left us. Why Sir Max went out unarmed that night I do not know. Had he been armed he might have killed Calli; that would have prevented this trouble.
human
I, too, wonder that Sir Max went out unarmed, said Castleman musingly.
gpt
Why do you suppose he was so incautious?
human
Perhaps that is the custom in Styria. There may be less danger, less treachery, there than in Burgundy,
gpt
In Styria! exclaimed Castleman.
human
Sir Karl said that he was from Italy. He did not tell me of Sir Max's home, but I supposed he also was from Italy, or perhaps from Würtemberg--there are many Guelphs in that country.
gpt
Yes, I will tell you of that later, uncle, said Yolanda.
human
When Calli left us, Sir Max returned safely to the inn, having promised me not to leave Peronne within a month. This trouble has come from Calli and Campo-Basso.
gpt
But you say this young man is from Styria?
human
Yes, replied Yolanda, drooping her head,
gpt
Great God! exclaimed Castleman, starting to his feet excitedly.
human
If I have brought these men here to be murdered, I shall die of grief; all Europe will turn upon Burgundy.