‘And if you get away?’ she asked. ‘What will you do? If you get to Rhodes, what will you do?’
‘All I shall do is to lay an information against your cousin and the innkeeper. The rest are ignorant fellows, and I bear them no malice. Besides, they are your men now.’
‘And when you’ve done that?’ she asked gravely.
‘Well, that’ll be all there is to do,’ said I, with an attempt at playful gaiety. It was not a very happy attempt.
‘Then you’ll go home to your own people?’
‘I shall go home; I’ve got no people in particular.’
‘Shall you ever come to Neopalia again?’
‘I don’t know. Yes, if you invite me.’
She regarded me intently for a full minute. She seemed to have forgotten the blast of the horn that summoned the islanders. I also had forgotten it; I saw nothing but the perfect oval face, crowned with clustering hair and framing deep liquid eyes. Then she drew a ring from her finger.
‘You have fought for me,’ she said. ‘You have risked your life for me. Will you take this ring from me? Once I tried to stab you. Do you remember, my lord?’