Yet their voices never trembled, never faltered.
She understood them well, and her expression showed clearly as words the admiration she felt for their courage.
"I am glad that you know the worst," she said, in a low but impressive tone, "for the unpleasant task of telling you is not left for me. Have you any thing to say before—"
"No."
"All that I would say," remarked young Jack, "that since they mean assassinating us, I hope that they will do their work cleanly, and not put us to the torture."
"At the worst," added his companion, "we shall not give them the satisfaction of seeing us beg and pray for mercy."
"It would be useless."
"We know it."
"And so shall not give them the chance of saying that two Englishmen showed the white feather."
"Bravely spoken," said the girl, "but the night is growing old, and so listen to what I have to say."