"How could I refuse? I did all I could. I kept them back and asked: 'Master, do you no longer trust me?' He looked at me with a look that seemed to pierce soul and body. 'From this moment,' he said, 'no longer,' and snatched the keys from my hand."
"And thou didst not prevent him?"
"Oh, mistress, you are unjust! What could you have done in my place? Nothing!"
"I should have strangled him. And now? What shall we do now?"
"Do? Nothing! Nothing can be done!"
"He must be liberated. Dost thou hear? he must!"
"But, mistress, I know not how."
Rauthgundis caught up an axe which lay near the hearth.
"We will open the doors by force."
Dromon tried to take the axe from her hand.