Do not stop to think whether I am right, whether it is
the better plan, but do it at once, because I have said so."
"I will do it," he replied. Then she saw a shadow fall over his face.
"There is nothing really in them, I suppose, Lady Lisle?"
"Nothing," she said, "but the cry of a woman's breaking heart! Enough to
ruin me, should my husband ever come to know it."
"That he never shall; they shall be destroyed. If I die for it, they
shall be destroyed."
"Ah, me," she said; "had ever liege lady so true a knight? Basil, how
shall I thank you?"
"The pleasure of serving you will be thanks enough," he replied.
"Ah, generous knight, noble knight, who shall say true chivalry is
dead?" And she praised him, she flattered him, she thanked him until the
slight doubt that had occurred to him died away and he was ashamed of
it.
He thought of nothing but obeying her. It was sadly against his high
English spirit to steal into a man's room and take from it; he would
have preferred fighting until one or the other lay dead. But she had
said nay, and it could not be. That very evening he called and was told
the count was not in; the day following he repeated the call, and the
servant, as he had said at the trial, was suspicious, not recognizing
him as one of his master's friends.
He called another evening, and, owing to the fact of there being a new
servant, he was admitted into the count's room.
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