"Just look out of this window."
"What for?"
"To see whether the height of the window above the ground would frighten you."
Childeric looked out of the window. "It is very high, Septimine; it is really very high."
"You little coward! It is only eight or ten feet at most. Suppose a rope with large knots were fastened to that iron bar yonder, would you have the courage to descend by the rope, helping yourself with your feet and hands?"
"Oh, I never could do that!"
"You would be afraid? Great God, is it possible!"
"The attempt looks to me above my strength."
"I would not be afraid, and I am only a girl.... Come, have courage, my prince."
The boy looked once more out of the window, reflected and proceeded to say: "You are right.... It is not as high as it looked at first. But the rope, Septimine, how am I to get it? And then, when I am down there, at night.... What shall I do then?"