Part 21 (1/2)

”What are you doing, you b.o.o.bies? Help! Seize him, bind him!”

”Don't talk nonsense--I see you are not frightened; I cannot do other than I am doing!” said Racoare.

Then the servants murmured again:

”How can we bind him? It is Racoare. He is here! Cozma Racoare, lady!”

”Cowards!” cried the lady, and threw herself upon Cozma.

The highwayman took her arm, pressed her hands together, tied them with a leather strap, and lifted her under his arm like a bundle.

”Get out of the way!” he said then, and the people fell over each other as they scattered to either side.

”What a pearl among women!” thought Cozma, while he strode along the corridor with the lady under his arm, ”he has not bad taste, that Boyar Nicola! Proud woman!”

The Sultana looked with eyes wide with horror at the servants who gave way on either hand in their terror. She felt herself held as in a vice. At last she raised her eyes to Racoare's fierce face. The light from the room was reflected in the man's steely eyes, and lit up his weather-beaten face.

”Who are you?” she gasped.

”I? Cozma Racoare.”

The lady gave another glance at the servants huddled in the corners, and she said not another word. Now she understood.

Outside, the highwayman mounted the bay, placed the lady in front of him, and set spurs to his horse. Once more the sound of the galloping horse broke the silence of the night.

”What a pearl among women!” thought Racoare, and the horse sped along the road like a phantom.

The lady turned her head, and studied Racoare by the light of the moon.

”Why do you look at me like that, lady?” And the horse sped along under the overhanging woods.

The black hair of the lady shone in great billows of light. The foliage glistened with h.o.a.r-frost, like silver-leaf. The lady looked at the highwayman and shuddered, she felt herself squeezed in his powerful arms, and her eyes burnt like two stars beneath the heavy knitted brows.

”Why do you look at me like that, lady? Why do you s.h.i.+ver? Are you cold?”

The galloping hooves thundered through the glades, the leaves glittered in their silver sheen, and the bay pa.s.sed on like a phantom in the light.

A shadow suddenly appeared in the distance.

”What is that yonder?” questioned the lady.

”Boyar Nicola awaits us there,” replied Racoare.

The lady said no more. But Cozma felt her stiffen herself. The leather strap was snapped, and two white hands were lifted up. The highwayman had no time to stop her. Like lightning she seized the bridle in her right hand, and turned the horse on the spot, but her left arm she twined round Racoare's neck. The highwayman felt the lady's head resting against his breast, and a voice murmured softly:

”Would you give me to another?”