ered Martin. "Let us
eat and drink, for to-morrow we die."

So like starving animals they devoured the food with thankfulness and
then they slept, yes, in the midst of all their misery and doubts they
slept.

It seemed but a few minutes later--in fact it was eight hours--when the
door opened again and there entered Adrian carrying a lantern in his
hand.

"Foy, Martin," he said, "get up and follow me if you would save your
lives."

Instantly they were wide awake.

"Follow you--_you?_" stammered Foy in a choked voice.

"Yes," Adrian answered quietly. "Of course you may not escape, but if
you stop here what chance have you? Ramiro, my father, will be back
presently and then----"

"It is madness to trust ourselves to you," interrupted Martin, and
Adrian seemed to wince at the contempt in his voice.

"I knew that you would think that," he answered humbly, "but what else
is to be done? I can pass you out of the city, I have made a boat ready
for you to escape in, all at the risk of my own life; what more can I
do? Why do you hesitate?"

"Because we do not believe you," said Foy; "besides, there is Elsa. I
will not go without Elsa."

"I have thought of that," answered Adrian. "Elsa is here. Come, Elsa,
show yourself."

Then from the stairs Elsa crept into the cellar, a new Elsa, for she,
too, had been fed, and in her eyes there shone a light of hope. A wild
jealousy filled Foy's heart. Why did she look thus? But she, she ran to
him, she flung her arms about his neck and kissed him, and Adrian did
nothing, he only turned his head aside.

"Foy," she gasped, "he is honest after all; he has only been
unfortunate. Come quickly, there is a chance for us; come before that
devil returns. Now he is at a council of the officers settling with Don
Frederic who are to be killed, but soon he will be back, and then----"

So they hesitated no more, but went.

They passed out of the house, none stopping them--the guard had gone to
the sack. At the gate by the ruined Ravelin there stood a sentry, but
the man was careless, or drunken, or bribed, who knows? At least, Adrian
gave him a pass-word, and, nodding his head, he let them by. A few
minutes later they were at the Mere side, and there among some reeds lay
the boat.

"Enter and be gone," said Adrian.

They scrambled into the boat and took the oars, while Martha began to
push off.

"Adrian," said Elsa, "what is to become of you?"

"Why do you trouble about that?" he