“Have they returned?” inquired the old Knight of the Cross.
“Yes!” replied the page.
But there was something in his voice which alarmed the old knight, and he said:
“And Brother Rotgier?”
“They have brought Brother Rotgier.”
Then Zygfried got up and for a long while he held on to the arm of the chair to prevent himself from falling, then in a stifled voice he said:
“Give me the cloak.”
The page placed the cloak on his shoulders. He had apparently regained his strength, for he put on the cowl himself without assistance, then he went out.
In a moment he found himself in the courtyard of the castle, where it was already quite dark; he walked slowly upon the cracking snow toward the retinue which was coming through the gate. He stopped near it where a crowd had already gathered, and se
