“See the fine gentlemen,” said they, “how daintily they handle the ball!  Better for them to keep to measuring silk or dealing out spices in their fathers’ shops, than try their skill here.”  “And the learned scholars, too,” said another, “they ought to stick to their musty parchments and books, and not amuse themselves with such idle games as these.”

Then one of them, on observing Hans, exclaimed, “See, too, the dyer’s son, with his rusty black jerkin.  ’Tis a pity he does not dip it in one of his old mother’s dye-pots, if he would have himself pass for a gentleman.”

Conrad overheard this last remark and was very angry.  A scornful allusion to his friend was almost more than he could bear.  It was his turn to throw the ball, and scarce knowing what he did, he threw it with force in the direction of the group of young nobles, and it struck one of them on the temple.  The youth drew his sword, (for at that time it was common for the sons of nobles to wear them as ornaments), and ran fiercely at him.  Hans sprang forward to defend his friend and placed himself before him.  He had no weapon but his knife, and in defending his friend with this, it so happened that he wounded the youth severely in the side.

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A cry arose of “To prison with the assassin!” and it was with difficulty that Hans could make his escape from out of the crowd which ran up from all sides to see what was passing and take part in the affray.  He succeeded, however, in getting to the house of his friend, which was near at hand, and here he was soon followed by Conrad, who was in great distress.  He said that the wound of the young man being found to be dangerous, the officers of justice were already in search of Hans.  He advised him to leave the town immediately and to make the best of his way to Worms, which is a town also on the banks of the Rhine, south of Mainz.  Here lived friends of his father, who would, he said, be ready to receive him, and he furnished him with money for the journey.  It was nightfall, and wrapped in a cloak which was lent to him by Conrad, Hans crept through the darkest and most retired streets until he reached the convent, in order that he might relate his unfortunate adventure to his uncle and take leave of him.

Not without much shame and sorrow had Hans to acknowledge to the good father how he had neglected his oft-repeated cautions and advice, and it was indeed a grief to his uncle to find into what dangers and difficulties Hans had fallen, which would thus oblige him to leave his friends and protectors and suddenly go forth alone into the world.  He reproached him severely for having gone into the company of riotous and quarrelsome youths, and pointed out to him that as a monk he would have been saved from all such dangers and temptations.  He recommended him, however, to repair immediately to a convent of monks in the town of Worms, of which the superior, or chief monk, was known to him, and