Part 5 (2/2)
We want it”
”You are welcome to any token I received,” Ellerey answered
”Give it me, then”
”Because I received none,” Ellerey added
”That's a lie,” said one man
”It is well for you that I am bound hand and foot,” said Ellerey quietly ”If I remember your face, I ain to give ht Once it is in my hands, you are free to depart,” said the spokesht,” answered Ellerey
”Search hiesture from their leader, they fell on their knees beside hi Ellerey received for the next few h hands were thrust into his pockets, and even his under-garments were rent apart lest by any means he should have secured the token next his skin
”There is nothing,” they said, rising to their feet one by one The last er, and turned an evil eye toward his chief
”May it not happen by an accident?” he said ”An accident would be forgiven, and it would be so ht shone on the keen blade the irdle, and Ellerey doubted whether the chief's ould have power to save him; whether, indeed, it would be spoken His salvation came from quite an unexpected quarter
”Why that knife, Nicolai?” said a voice which caused theto his feet, and made Ellerey turn his head ”You would dare to disobey my commands, Nicolai? Stand aside I have no faith in you”
The ruffian slunk back into the shadows of the room without a word
Ellerey was astonished that so reat an effect He looked at the diht of the lantern revealed; a woure, closely cloaked from head to foot, while an ample scarf ound round her head, and her face hidden by a silken mask She had entered by a door somewhat behind hi him were the last to become aware of her presence
”Have you found it?” she deiven At any rate, it is not upon hie of the ruffians
The woman took the lantern from the man who carried it, and, as she held it up, saw more distinctly the faces of the iven you trouble, it seeht of you”
”And two on the stairs who have not yet recovered,” said one
”He should be a good man, then, for a hazardous enterprise,” and the wo the lantern low to look into Ellerey's face
Ellerey could see the eyes through the holes in the silkHe had hardly noticed the eyes of the woman who had stopped him at the corner of the Altstrasse; he did not knohether they were the sa in her voice She gazed at hi erect, handed the lantern to one of the men Behind the mask she smiled ”Your cut-throats, madam, have made a mistake I have no token,” said Ellerey
”Do any of you know this ner,” growled one ”A soldier,” said another
”A King's man,” said a third, ”and better put out of the way, if I may advise”
”You would be as Nicolai yonder, under my displeasure,” she answered sharply ”Have a care I shall kno to deal with the first ht shefa his daring before she fully trusted him?