"And now I understand why it was you who
drew sword."
"A privilege too precious to be resigned," I answered in a low tone,
"even for the sake of my secret and my safety."
My words were spoken so tenderly that she sought relief from her
charming embarrassment by taking up my sword from the table, and saying,
with a smile:
"I have you in my power, monsieur, follower of the King of Navarre! What
if I were minded, on behalf of the governor of this province, to make you
a prisoner?"
"My faith!" I could only reply, "you need no sword to make
prisoners of men."
"You hope to purchase your freedom with a compliment," she said,
continuing the jest; "but you cannot close my eyes with flattery."
"It would be a crime beyond me to close eyes so beautiful!"
She gave a pretty little smile and shrug of helplessness, as if to
say, "I cannot help it, monsieur, if you will overwhelm me with
compliments which are not deserved, I am powerless to prevent you."
But the compliments were all the more deserved because she seemed to
think them not so.
Her modesty weakened my own audacity, and her innocent eyes put me into
a kind of confusion. So I changed the subject.
"It appears to me, mademoiselle," I said, "that I have had the honor of
ridding you of unpleasant company."
Her face quickly clouded, as if my words had brought to her mind a
greater trouble than the mere importunities of an insolent adventurer.
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