threw himself on his knees, exclaiming, "O, Lord Jesus, pardon my
enemies! Pardon them, for the love of thy great mercy and goodness?"

_Theobald, (affected.)_ Arnold! did John Huss, indeed, speak thus?

_Arnold_. He did! John Huss knew Jesus, and, like Jesus, prayed for his
murderers. No, Theobald; he who loves--who loves unto death, and who can
pray for his executioners--is not an infidel.

"O, Hildegarde! Hildegarde!" exclaimed Theobald, groaning; "what hast
thou done, and what have I done! Poor prisoners! What injustice!"

_Arnold_. Your heart is oppressed, Theobald; some sorrowful remembrance
distresses you.

The chevalier was about to reply, when a noise was heard at the door,
which was opened by Gottfried, holding Erard by the hand.

"Here they both are!" said the old man to the child. "Look, Erard, and
see whether the chevalier hates thy father. See, if what Ethbert told me
was not true!

"This dear child," added he, "had some fears for his father: for he
knows all, Theobald."

_Theobald, (with tenderness.)_ Come, then, Erard, and give me your hand.
Come, my child, and also pardon me. O, how I need pardon from every
heart here! Say, Erard, will you not forgive me?

_Erard, (giving his hand to the chevalier.)_ I love you much, since my