"I shall do it in case of disobedience or opposition. Now tell me plainly, will you appear at Villica to-morrow, or will you not?"
"No, and a thousand times no!" replied the forester in a towering passion. "I have orders not to leave here, and I shall go only when forced to do so."
Waldemar was startled. "Orders? From whom?"
The forester saw his blunder, but it was too late to recall the hasty words.
"From whom have you received orders?" repeated the young landlord. "Is it from the princess, my mother?"
"Well, what if it were so? The princess has ruled us for years, why should she not rule us now?"
"Because the master is himself at hand, and two persons cannot hold the reins. My mother is my guest; I am ruler of Villica. You say you have orders not to leave unless forced to do so? Here is something more than mere insubordination."
The forester maintained an obstinate silence. Through his own indiscretion he had been guilty of what the princess would have called treason, and what Wanda's hasty mission was intended to prevent. That one unguarded word betrayed to Waldemar that the opposition to which he had thus far attached little importance, was the result of a deep-laid scheme on the part of his mother.
"We will not discuss the matter further," said Waldemar. "To-morrow this district will be in other hands. The rest of our business can be arranged at Villica Castle."
He was on the point of leaving, but the overseer seized his musket and intercepted him.