"Is it ransom you want?"
Elwig again relapsed into silence, and resumed with a mixture of embarrassment and cunning that struck me forcibly:
"Let Victoria come and ask my brother for your life. He will grant it to her.—But listen, Victoria has a great reputation for beauty; handsome women love to deck themselves with the Gallic jewelry that is so celebrated.—Victoria must have superb ornaments, seeing she is the mother of the chief of your country.—Tell her to cover herself with her richest jewelry; it will please my brother's eyes.—He will be all the more gracious, and will grant your life to her."
I immediately surmised the snare that the priestess of hell was laying for me with the clumsy cunning natural to barbarians. Wishing to make certain, I observed without referring to her last words:
"It seems that your brother is a powerful chief."
"He is more than a chief," Elwig answered proudly; "he is a king."
"We also, in the days of our barbarism, had kings. What is your brother's name?"
"Neroweg, surnamed the Terrible Eagle."
"You carry on your arms two figures, one representing a red serpent, the other the talons of a bird of prey. What do those emblems mean?"
"The fathers of our fathers in our royal family have always worn these signs of valor and subtlety. The eagle's talons denote valor; the serpent subtlety. But let us drop my brother," added Elwig with somber impatience. My digression seemed to displease her. "Will you induce Victoria to come here?"