noon
Ulrich was again Eletto , but this need not prevent his seeing his father and Ruth once more , so he declared that he would retain his office , but should be obliged to ride to Antwerp that day , secretly inform the officers of the conspiracy against the city , and the necessity of negotiating with the commandant , that their share of the rich prize might not be lost . What many had suspected and hoped was now to become reality . Their Eletto was no idle man ! When Navarrete appeared at noon in front of the troops with his own work , the standard , in his hand , he was received with shouts of joy , and no one murmured , though many recognized in the Madonna 's countenance the features of the murdered sibyl . Two days later Ulrich , full of eager expectation , rode into Antwerp , carrying in his portmanteau the mementos he had taken from his mother 's chest , while in imagination he beheld his father 's face , the smithy at Richtberg , the green forest , the mountains of his home , the Costas ' house , and his little playfellow . Would he really be permitted to lean on his father 's broad breast once more ? And Ruth , Ruth !