Then, as Miriam bent over him, with her sweet pleading face I realized that it was her father I was hounding to his death. That was a deeper cut than all. I knew that a man cannot serve two masters. Could I serve two mistresses—or three? Could I avenge Ruth, serve Lady Marmaduke, and protect Miriam all at the same time? How had I kept my promise to Annetje? I was in this sullen humor when I met the dwarf in the hall.
“What did you come back for?” he cried angrily. “I saved your life and now you have lost me mine. Do you think life is sweet only to you? Does my ill-shaped figure, think you, have no love of the green earth? Ungrateful!”
“What do you mean?”
“I chose the men who were to kill you. I prepared the weapons that were to shoot you. I watched by your dead body all the time—at least, so I swore. Now he has seen you alive and well. Do you suppose the little dwarf will live long after that? You know his practices on yourself, and I am not half your size. God’s curse upon you.”
“Louis,” I said, “I had forgot—”
“Forgot what I did for you?”
“No, I shall never forget that. You have a right to be angry with me. But I have done it; it cannot be helped. Is there no way I can undo my mistake?”
“None.”
“Think. There must be.”
“There is none.”