"Come—that is not bad," said I, assuming somewhat of her tone of raillery, while her frankness charmed me. "I must, of course, be your friend first, señora."
"And then——" she added archly.
"Ah! there is no saying what I may be."
"Oh! 'tis quite a compact—we shall be friends!" she added, laughing and clapping her hands.
"I trust you have not much further to go," said I, as we approached the muddy margin of the Elbe; "for I fear me greatly, I am already liable to be tried by a court-martial."
"Consejo de guerra?" she repeated, turning on me her bright eyes, which shone like stars through the holes in her mask. "I should be miserable if I occasioned that; but you need come no farther. My husband's messenger is standing under yonder tree, and, as I have no wish that you should hear all the tender messages my Reichardt sends me, I beg you will stand here until I return."
"By that wicked smile I see you have no husband."
"You shall see that I have; but on your honour, as a soldier and cavalier, do not follow me, and permit none to approach us."
"Whoever does so, must pass over my body," said I, unsheathing my claymore.
With a light step she hurried to the water-side, where, from under the shadow of a group of willows, I saw a tall male figure step out of a boat, which lay concealed among the thick long reeds. To Prudentia he made a bow, the brevity, or rather hauteur of which, was indicated by the lofty nod of his feathers, and then they entered into conversation, and I saw her deliver into his hand a packet, which he placed in his breast.