"And the end?"
She tossed up her hands and let them fall on her lap. "Failure, of course, with its accompaniment of more proscriptions, more imprisonments, more tyranny."
"But yourself?"
"I have done no wrong and do not fear. Besides, have I not found a friend in you?" and she gave me a bright smile.
"I wish you would let that friend see you safe out of the country," I said very earnestly.
She shook her head slowly. "I am no coward to fly; but if ever it should come to that and I ask your help, you will not fail me I know."
"On my honour, I will not," I cried, all my heart in my voice. "I shall wait for that day."
"I am sure of you, Herr Bastable," she replied simply.
Again we were silent for a while. I could not trust myself to speak, and this time it was she who broke the silence. "I am very glad I have told you," she said. "Glad because it is good to share confidence with a friend, and glad, too, because you will see why it is not right for me to remain here, to let you and your sister run this risk on my account. She must not go with me when I leave your house. You understand that now?"
"We shall not let you go."