ave completed your apprenticeship," he said.

"It is expired but two months, sir," Malcolm said, standing up
respectfully.

"Under whom did you learn your trade?" the governor asked; "for I have
been in Nuremberg and know most of the guild of clockmakers by name."

"Under Jans Boerhoff, the syndic of the guild," Malcolm replied.

"Ah!" the baron said shortly; "and his shop is in--"

"The Cron Strasse," Malcolm said promptly in answer to the implied
question.

Quite satisfied now, the baron turned away and conversed a few minutes
with the count, telling him that as the surgeon said he could now be
safely removed he would in three days be transferred to an apartment in
the fortress.

"Will the countess be permitted to accompany me?" the count asked.

"That I cannot tell you," the baron replied. "We are expecting a
messenger with his majesty's orders on the subject tomorrow or next day.
I have already informed you that, in his solicitude for her welfare, his
majesty has been good enough to order that the young countess shall
be placed in the care of the lady superior of the Convent of St.
Catherine."

A few minutes later he left the room. Not a word was spoken in the room
until the sound of horse's hoofs without told that he had ridden off.

As the door closed the countess and Thekla had dropped their work and
sat anxiously awaiting the continuance of the conversation. The count
was the first to speak.

"How mean you, Malcolm? How think you it possible that Thekla can
escape, and where could she go?"

"I like not to make the proposal," Malcolm said gravely, "nor under
any other circumstances should I think of doing so; but in a desperate
position desperate measures must be adopted. It is impossible that in
your present state you can escape hence, and the countess will not leave
you; but what is absolutely urgent is that your daughter should be freed
from the strait. Save myself you have no friends here; and therefore,
count, if she is to escape it must be through my agency and she must be
committed wholly to my care. I know it is a great responsibility; but if
you and the countess can bring yourselves to commit her to me I swear to
you, as a Scottish gentleman and a Protestant soldier, that I will watch
over her as a brother until I place her in all honour in safe hands."

The count looked at the countess and at Thekla, who sat pale and still.

"We can trust you, Malcolm Graheme," he said after a pause. "Th