The pledges which were asked of the young Prince were beautifully engrossed on three parchments, each one a duplicate of the other two.  If Roland accepted them, they were to be signed next day, in presence of the three Archbishops.  Two certainties were impressed upon him when he had read the scroll:  first, the Archbishops were determined to rule; and second, if he did not promise to obey they would elect some other than himself Emperor on the death or deposition of his father.  The young man resolved to be acquiescent and allow the future to settle the question whether he or the Archbishops should be the head of the Empire.  A strange exultation filled him at the prospect, and all thought of other things vanished from his mind.

Leaving the parchments on the table in the knights’ hall, where he had examined them, he mounted to the battlements to enjoy the fresh breeze that, no matter how warm the day, blows round the towers of Ehrenfels.  Here a stone promenade, hung high above the Rhine, gave a wonderful view up and down the river and along the opposite shore.  From this elevated, paved plateau he could see down the river the strongholds of Rheinstein and Falkenberg, and up the river almost as far as Mayence.  He judged by the altitude of the sun that it was about four o’clock in the afternoon.  The sight of Rheinstein should have suggested to him his deserted company, for that was the first castle he intended to attack, but the prospect opened up to him by the communication of the Archbishops had driven everything else from his mind.

Presently the cautious custodian joined him in his eyrie, and Roland knew instinctively why he had come.  The old man was wondering whether or not he would make difficulties about signing the parchments.  He feared the heedless impetuosity and conceit of youth; the natural dislike on the part of a proud young prince to be restricted and bound down by his elders, and the jailer could not conceal his gratification when the prisoner informed him that of course he would comply with the desires of the three prelates.

“You see,” he continued, with a smile, “I must attach my signature to those instruments in order to make good my promises to you.”

He was interrupted by a cry of astonishment from his aged comrade.

“Will wonders never cease!” cried the old man.  “Those merchants in Frankfort must be irredeemable fools.  Look you there, Highness!  Do you see that barge coming down the river, heavily laden, as I am a sinner, for she lies low in the water.  It is one of the largest of the Frankfort boats, and those hopeful simpletons doubtless imagine they can make their way through to Cologne with enough goods left to pay for the journey.  ’Tis madness!  Why, the knights of Rheinstein and Falkenberg alone will loot them before they are out of our sight.  If they think to avoid those rovers by hugging our shore, their mistake will be apparent before they have gone far.”