"I am honoured, madam," said I in some puzzlement.
And then, seeing my wonder writ on my face, she laughed outright.
"I fear me, good sir, we are scarcely of one mind," she said. "Loth as I am to enforce you with any restraint, yet needs must I tell you that for a time you shall rest content to remain my guest."
"Shall, madam?" said I, with a lift of the eyes.
"Shall, sir," she repeated. "You shall be a hostage, a pledge for the fair treatment of my father."
"What have I to do with your father?" I asked, in my bewilderment.
"This: that your general has sworn to hang my father so soon as he lays hands on him, wherefore I have despatched a letter to your general to let him know that I have you in ward, and will surely execute upon you any violence or indignity that my father may suffer."
"I WILL SURELY EXECUTE UPON YOU ANY VIOLENCE OR INDIGNITY THAT MY FATHER MAY SUFFER"
This she said with a firm voice, smiting the table with her little hand; and I knew in my heart that what she said, that the fair termagant would surely do.