"Witichis--King Witichis--" at last stammered Mataswintha; "it is I! Dost thou hear me?"
But the prisoner did not move.
"I come to save thee--fly! Thou art free!"
But the prisoner dropped his head again.
"Oh, speak!--oh, only look at me!"
She now went quite into the dungeon. Gladly would she have touched his arm, and taken his hand, but she did not yet dare.
"Cethegus will kill thee!" she said; "torture thee. He surely will if thou dost not fly!"
And now her desperation gave her courage. She drew nearer.
"But thou wilt fly! Thou shalt not die! I must save thee! I beseech thee, fly, fly! Oh, thou dost not hear me, and time presses! Sometime thou shalt know everything! but now fly--to life and liberty! I have the keys of the doors! fly, fly!" And now she grasped his arm and tried to drag him from his seat.
But she heard the rattling of chains--on his arms on his feet. He was chained to the block of stone.