The eyes of the queen flashed with rage that was intense, and for a moment she could not find words to make a reply.
But finally she calmed herself and said:
“My answer is this, base conspirators! I will not agree to your terms, even though you do leave me here to die, which you dare not do.”
“Dare not? We will show you. I will give you just five minutes to consider your reply, and if in that time you do not agree, we will certainly leave you both here—unless the young man whom you have chosen for your husband desires to accept one of us, and will take an oath not to reveal what has happened.”
“I will not do that!” said Dick, hotly. “Do your worst, you she-fiends; we will triumph in the end.”
“Nobly spoken, my brave young lover!” spoke up the queen. “It will be as you say—we will triumph in the end.”
There was no reply to this until the five minutes had elapsed, and then the queen’s sister, with a perfectly immovable face, spoke up.
“What is your decision?” she asked, coolly.
“You have it already. Free us immediately, or I give you my word that every one of you shall suffer the fate of Azurma.”
There was a ripple of mocking laughter at this, and the leader of the conspirators went on: