Roswitha swallowed hard and looked over at Madlen, who at this exact instant returned her gaze. She smiled weakly and nodded. Roswitha’s eyes welled up with tears.
“Agathe, my mistress, got sick first. She also had the cough. Madlen gathered some herbs, and I picked up frankincense. It took several days, but in the end, Agathe was cured. I was so relieved. And then Sander got sick.”
“What happened then?”
“At first, Madlen only gave me the herbs. I tried everything. But his life hung by a thread. Then Madlen came, and from that point on, he got better. Now he’s perfectly healthy.”
“What did Madlen do that you couldn’t?”
She kneaded her fingers together nervously. “She calmed him.”
“How?”
Roswitha needed a moment. Then she described how Madlen swayed the candle to and fro and sang hymns and recited psalms and prayer. The spectators’ uneasiness was palpable. The scene she described confused them.
“Roswitha, what did the defendant get in return?”
“She didn’t get anything.”
“Nothing? But why did she do it?”
“Why did she help him though he couldn’t offer her anything in return?” Roswitha shrugged. “I don’t know. She’s simply a good person.”
Johannes smiled joylessly. “You don’t really believe that, do you? Did the defendant heal other people?”
“Yes, she healed other people. Many.”
“And what did she get for this?”
“She did it out of the goodness of her heart.”
He shook his head. “I have no further questions at the moment. Your witness, Master von Balge.” He nodded at Andreas, then he went back to his table and took his place.
“Thank you.” Andreas stood. “And how is Sander now?”
“He’s doing very well, my lord.”
“My lady, let me explain to you what my colleague was getting at with his questions about payment.” He addressed the simple maid formally. “Sander didn’t have to pay for help from my client?”
“That is correct, my lord.”
“But she helped him anyway?”
“Yes, she saved his life. I’m eternally grateful to her.”
“How wonderful is it that people like my client exist in this world?” He opened his arms up wide and looked at the crowd of spectators.
“Yes, my lord, it’s a true blessing.”
The spectators whispered to each other.
“The reason my colleague asked is simple: he wants to prove that she acted in the name of the devil and was rewarded with the souls of the healed.”
Johannes jumped up. “You cannot put words in my mouth.”
“So, that is not what you meant to imply?”
Johannes laughed scornfully. “The witness is sitting there in front of you, esteemed colleague. You should ask her, not me.” He wanted to say something else, but the sheriff held up his hand.
“Sit down immediately and wait until it’s your turn to take the floor.”
Johannes let himself fall back into his seat angrily.
“Please continue, Master von Balge.” The sheriff nodded at Andreas.
“Thank you.” He turned to the witness again. “Now, Roswitha, my lady, you said that at the beginning, my client only gave your husband herbs and sent them with you, so that you could help him yourself.”
“Yes, my lord. Sander wasn’t my husband yet, but that’s true. She didn’t want to come with me.”
“And did she demand something from you in exchange for her herbs?”
“No, my lord.”
“And how did it come about that my client took over the treatment?”
“Well, this happened at the time that I served Agathe as a maid. Agathe knew that I could care for Sander until he was healthy again or until it was all over.”
“And what did my client have to do with that?”
“I think she just wanted to see whether he was getting better. Or she came to check on me. I hadn’t returned to my mistress’s house after several days. I’d been taking care of Sander the whole time.”
“Was there no one else who could have helped you?”
Roswitha shook her head. “Sander has a sister; her name is Mechthild. But she’d lost all hope and could not stay away from work any longer. She left me alone with him.”
“His only sibling?” Andreas lifted an eyebrow.
“Yes, my lord.”
“And then what happened?”
Roswitha took a deep breath. Even now, the memory of that time was hard for her. “I prepared the herbal brew the way Madlen had showed me. But he got worse and worse. I ran out of frankincense. I had no more strength, and Sander’s cough wasn’t getting any better. He had a convulsion because his fever was so high; I imagine his internal organs were burning up.”