“I did not mean to kill him.”
“I know it; forgive me. He has been talking in his madness and I know all. God forgive me; how I have been deceived. Will you go with me to the Hanging Rock?”
I followed her outside my door to where stood Annetje. The three of us proceeded through the crooked halls. At the outer door we were stopped by the guards.
“Not go out?” cried Miriam. “Out of my way! I am mistress here.”
The men gave back—there was no gainsaying her when her spirit was fully aroused—and we passed out. She bore herself with a fierce calmness that was terrible to see. I wondered whether she could stand the strain produced by this shattering of her idol; or whether she would go mad.
“Do you know why we are going?” she asked in a low, painful voice.
“Spare me,” I replied. “I know it all.”
“How long have you known it?”
“But just now. I learned it from a paper that Louis left behind.”
“You must have known many other things. I begin to understand why you have not betrayed us long ago. I have misjudged you. Forgive me, but there is small time for undoing now. Let me take your hand. Come, we must run; it is a matter of minutes now. He may die while we are coming.”