Manfred endeavoured to hold him, but the other Knights assisting
their comrade, he broke from the Prince, and hastened into the
court, demanding his attendants. Manfred, finding it vain to
divert him from the pursuit, offered to accompany him and summoning
his attendants, and taking Jerome and some of the Friars to guide
them, they issued from the castle; Manfred privately giving orders
to have the Knight's company secured, while to the knight he
affected to despatch a messenger to require their assistance.

The company had no sooner quitted the castle than Matilda, who felt
herself deeply interested for the young peasant, since she had seen
him condemned to death in the hall, and whose thoughts had been
taken up with concerting measures to save him, was informed by some
of the female attendants that Manfred had despatched all his men
various ways in pursuit of Isabella. He had in his hurry given
this order in general terms, not meaning to extend it to the guard
he had set upon Theodore, but forgetting it. The domestics,
officious to obey so peremptory a Prince, and urged by their own
curiosity and love of novelty to join in any precipitate chase, had
to a man left the castle. Matilda disengaged herself from her
women, stole up to the black tower, and unbolting the door,
presented herself to the astonished Theodore.

"Young man," said she, "though filial duty and womanly modesty
condemn the step I am taking, yet holy charity, surmounting all
other ties, justifies this act. Fly; the doors of thy prison are
open: my father and his domestics are absent; but they may soon
return. Be gone in safety; and may the angels of heaven direct thy
course!"