Part 6 (2/2)
”You are free,” she said; ”but for the safety of these men, you must consent to be blindfolded, and led to the place you caht ht hardly be to her liking,” was the answer
At a sign from her, Ellerey's eyes were bound with a scarf, and in a fewthe streets
”One uides, presently ”There are footsteps, surely!”
Ellerey stood still and waited, listening He heard no footsteps, and presently did not perceive the breathing of the man beside hie from his eyes He was alone at the corner of the Altstrasse, and the rain was beating slantwise into his face
CHAPTER IV
THE COURT OF STURATZBERG
Ellerey's servant had fallen asleep on a settle, partly induced, perhaps, by the liquor the empty tankard beside him had held, but he started, wide awake on the instant, as his master entered Ellery expected him to remark upon his sorry condition, as he threw off his cloak, but thein h, Captain,” was the answer ”They were good clothes, too”
”And interest you rimly
”For the moment, yes The -shop or to be given to me”
”And, for choice, you would sooner have a corpse to deal with, so that the clothes were untorn?”
Stefan shrugged his shoulders
”I could spare most of my acquaintances to be ood clothes It was a street attack, Captain, I suppose?”
”They are cohtly
”The tale will serve as well as another,” Stefan returned ”If I tell it, I a, it is no sin of mine”
”Why, rascal, what else should it be?”
”It ht be a friend turned ene of one of the ; but let it be a street attack Was anyout his life in the corner of the wall? It is well to have the story complete”
”No; it was an encounter of blows and bruises only”
”In such a plight as yoursto their own condition to prove their state, at a street corner, victile sword, yet was there never a corpse to be found in theYour easy boaster is ever a ready liar”
”Patch up the clothes and wear thehed Ellerey ”Some day, perhaps, when I am certain of your affection, I may tell you more of the adventure, and ask your help”
The man took up the tankard, looked into its eain Then he turned round suddenly: ”Soher pay to serve another inning to think I was a fool, since you trust me so little,”