Marin was quite unabashed, and there was a leer in the small eyes he turned up to the young giant who held him as a mastiff holds a rat.
At the name of Margot, Gabriel loosed the man, covered his eyes with his hands and sank into a chair.
“Ah, Margot!” he groaned.
“Yes, Margot, I say again. Thou wilt let me go, and thou wilt swear that thou knowest of a truth that I overstayed my time, and was drowned in the marshes hurrying hither in the darkness of the night, that thou didst strive to save me and failed. The salt marshes receive the dead, and cover them kindly. All this thou dost know, and my good character also. Who will doubt the word of a brave soldier?”
“A clumsy plot, indeed, even were I willing to forswear my honor for thee!”
Gabriel had his friend by the collar again.
“Release me, or I will not tell thee what I know!” ejaculated Marin sullenly.
“Tell, and be done!”
The young man let go of his prisoner so suddenly that the fellow nearly fell upon the floor.
“Not so fast, my brave capitain!” Marin was eying him now from a safe distance. “Not a word of the belle cousine dost thou win from me until I have thy promise to aid me to escape.”