“What!” he said, grinning; “is Madam Judas yet short of her price?”
“What price have I taken? It is not to be Judas to betray brother to brother for virtue’s sake.”
He bent, in a sawing laugh.
“How apt the jade is! Let me tell you, madam, that virtue is an inner commodity, and spoils when too much on the lips.”
He forced me to mount, signed to his fellows to follow, and, taking the bridle, led me down the hill.
“Now, for your price,” said he, as he walked. “Well, I would have bid more for sound goods; but—what say ye?—you are happy on relations—would you like to be my daughter?”
I hung my head, without replying. It was true he was old enough to be my father. This misery must cast me once more on the world, a prey to all unimaginable evils. What chance else remained to me to protect myself and make my fortune serve my honour?
While I was still quietly weeping, we reached the cottage from the front, and halted. The earl motioned, and his suite gathered round and knocked on the door. In the silence that ensued we could hear the sound as of an unwieldy beast within shuffling to and fro. The verderer had seen us through the window, and knew himself for lost. Presently one put his knee to the panels, whispering for orders.
“Curse it, no,” hissed his master; “he may hear us.”
“If he does, he cannot escape,” I murmured. “I pulled the ladder after me.”