"Your people have conquered, mynheer," she said. "Mine are in flight. Therefore I have come to surrender myself—to you."
"I do not ask your surrender," Peter Gross, replied gravely, beginning to understand.
"You do not ask it, mynheer, but some one must suffer for what has happened. Some one must pay the victor's price. I am responsible, I incited my people. So I offer myself—they are innocent and should not be made to suffer."
"Ah Sing is responsible," Peter Gross said firmly. "And I."
"You, mynheer?" The question came from Koyala's unwilling lips before she realized it.
"Yes, I, juffrouw. It is best that we forget what has happened—I must begin my work over again." He closed his lips firmly, there were lines of pain in his face. "That is," he added heavily, "if his excellency will permit me to remain here after this fiasco."
"You will stay here?" Koyala asked incredulously.
"Yes. And you, juffrouw?"
A moment's silence. "My place is with my people—if you do not want me as hostage, mynheer?"
Peter Gross took a step forward and placed a hand on her shoulder. She trembled violently.