"My lord!" said she, falling upon her knees.
"Well, my pretty damsel," said he; for Kate looked very sweet in her saucy cap.
"My lord," continued she, and the tears rose to her eyes as she spoke; "you have my father in custody."
"Ha!" exclaimed the baron, frowning,--"Peter Kurtz?"
"Bring forth Peter Kurtz!" cried the baron to the guard, and soon Peter made his appearance, crying like a good fellow. "Now that I have you confronted with each other," continued the baron, "where did your father get that cup?"
"_He_ did not get it, my lord; an old man in the forest gave it to me," answered Catherine.
"Humph!" grunted the baron. "Your father has taught you prettily."
"My lord," resumed Catherine, "I came to buy my father's liberty."
"Ha!" cried the baron, eagerly, "have you brought the saucer?"
"No, my lord." The baron's countenance fell. "But, if you release my father, we have a goose at home that I will give you, and every egg it will lay for you shall be of pure gold." The baron's countenance lifted again. "This, my lord, I offer you."
Peter's eyes had been opening in wide astonishment as Kate proceeded.
"Why, Kate," exclaimed he, "_I_ don't know about----"
The baron thought Peter's exclamation arose from his regret at parting with such a treasure; so his eagerness arose in proportion.
"Can you swear to the truth of this?" asked the baron.
"Be quiet, father!" interrupted Catherine, again.
"He shall have his freedom," cried the baron, eagerly, "and the cup to boot."
"We do not want the cup, my lord," answered wise Catherine.
"Yes, but we do!" cried Peter; for, as the prospect of his pardon increased, respect for his daughter's wisdom diminished in direct ratio.
"You shall have it!" cried the baron; "release him, guards!"
"One thing more," said Catherine; "a proclamation must be issued stating that you will never arrest my father again in connection with this affair."
"It shall be done!" said the baron; upon which he dismissed them both with the golden cup, which Peter had accepted in spite of his daughter's protestations.
That same afternoon the proclamation was issued, and Catherine carried a large gray goose to Castle Dunderhead.
"Father," said she, when she returned, "since you have accepted the golden cup, you must leave this place, for the baron will always look enviously upon you. Had you left it with him he would have paid no more attention to you, but now it is different."