“How much?” asked Roland, hesitating.

“More than all of you can carry away.”

“In gold?”

“Of a surety in gold.”

“Where are the keys of your treasury?”

“In my chamber.  I will bring them to you,” and the Baron turned to mount the steps again.

“Not so,” cried Roland.  “Stand where you are, and send your man for them.  If they are not here before I count twoscore, you hang, and nothing will save you.”

The Baron told the trembling valet where to find the keys.

“Greusel, you and Ebearhard accompany him, and at the first sign of treachery, or any attempt to give an alarm, run him through with your swords.  Does your man know where the treasury is?” he continued to the Baron.

“Oh, yes, yes!”

“How is your gold bestowed?”

“In leathern bags.”

“Good.  Greusel, take sixteen of the men, and bring down into the courtyard all the gold you can carry.  Then we will estimate whether or not it is sufficient to buy the Baron’s life, for I hold him in high esteem.  He is a valuable man.  See to it that there is no delay, Greusel, and never lose sight of this valet.  Bring him back, laden with gold.”

They all disappeared within the Castle, led by the old servitor.

“Sit you down, Baron,” said Roland genially.  “You seem agitated, for which there is no cause should there prove to be gold enough to outweigh you.”

The ponderous noble seated himself with a weary sigh.

“And pray to the good Lord above us,” went on Roland, “that your men may not return before this transaction is completed, for if they do, my first duty will be to strangle you.  Even gold will not save you in that case.  But still, you have another chance for your life, should such an untoward event take place.  Shout to them through the closed gates that they must return to the edge of the river until you join them; then, if they obey, you are spared.  Remember, I beg of you, the uselessness of an outcry, for we are in possession of Rheinstein, and you know that the Castle is unassailable from without.”

The Baron groaned.

“Do not be hasty with your cord,” he said dejectedly.  “I will follow your command.”

The robbers, however, did not return, but the treasure-searchers did, piling the bags in the courtyard, and again Hohenfels groaned dismally at the sight.  Roland indicated certain sacks with the point of his sword, ordering them to be opened.  Each was full of gold.

“Now, my lads,” he cried, “oblige the Baron by burdening yourselves with this weight of metal, then we shall make for the Hunsruck.  Open the gates.  Lead the men to the point where we halted, Greusel, and there await me.”

The rich company departed, and Roland beguiled the time and the weariness of the Baron by a light and interesting conversation to which there was neither reply nor interruption.  At last, having allowed time for his band to reach their former halting-place, he took the rope from the Baron’s neck, tied the old robber’s hands behind him, then bound his feet, cutting the rope in lengths with his sword.  He served the trembling valet in the same way, shutting him up within the Castle, and locking the door with the largest key in the bunch, which bunch he threw down beside his lordship.