escaped from Leyden."

Martin grunted. "One woman to trust another, and at her age too; what a
fool!"

"Fool yourself, you thick-brained Frisian," broke in Martha angrily,
"where did you learn to teach your betters wisdom? I told the Jufvrouw
because I knew that we might all of us be swept away, and I thought it
well that then she should know where to look for a key to the treasure."

"A woman's kind of reason," answered Martin imperturbably, "and a bad
one at that, for if we had been finished off she must have found it
difficult to get hold of the sword. But all this is done with. The point
is, why did the Jufvrouw tell Ramiro?"

"Because I am a coward," answered Elsa with a sob. "You know, Foy, I
always was a coward, and I never shall be anything else. I told him to
save myself."

"From what?"

"From being married."

Adrian winced palpably, and Foy, noting it, could not resist pushing the
point.

"From being married? But I understand--doubtless Adrian will explain the
thing," he added grimly--"that you were forced through some ceremony."

"Yes," answered Elsa feebly, "I--I--was. I tried to buy myself off by
telling Ramiro the secret, which will show you all how mad I was with
terror at the thought of this hateful marriage"--here a groan burst
from the lips of Adrian, and something like a chuckle from those of Red
Martin. "Oh! I am so sorry," went on Elsa in confusion; "I am sure that
I did not wish to hurt Adrian's feelings, especially after he has been
so good to us."

"Never mind Adrian's feelings and his goodness, but go on with the
story," interrupted Foy.

"There isn't much more to tell. Ramiro swore before God that if I gave
him the clue he would let me go, and then--then, well, then, after I
had fallen into the pit and disgraced myself, he said that it was not
sufficient, and that the marriage must take place."

At this point Foy and Martin laughed outright. Yes, even there they
laughed.

"Why, you silly child," said Foy, "what else did you expect him to say?"

"Oh! Martin, do you forgive me?" said Elsa. "Immediately after I had
done it I knew how shameful it was, and that he would try to hunt you
down, and that is why I have been afraid to tell you ever since. But I
pray you believe me; I only spoke because, between shame and fear, I did
not know right from wrong. Do you forgive me?"

"Lady," answered the Frisian, smiling in his slow fashion, "if I had
been there unknown to Ramiro, and you