It was a friendly letter, which relieved me a good deal from my anxieties; but what I could not bear was the thought that the Duke would think me a deserter. I made up my mind that I would get away from that house at the first opportunity, so as to rejoin the Duke, to whom I felt myself pledged. But in the meantime, until I could get away, I resolved to make the best of my imprisonment. I was nettled by Aurelia's tone of superiority. I would show her, as I had shown her before, that my wits were just as nimble as hers. A few minutes after the letter had been read, she held a parley with me through the keyhole.
“Mr. Martin Hyde. Are you going to shoot me?”
“No, Miss Carew, though I think you deserve it.”
“You won't try to get away if I open the door?”
“I mean to get away as soon as ever I get half a chance.”
“I've got three men with me at the door here.”
“Oh. Very well. But you just wait till I get a chance.”
“Don't be so bloodthirsty, Mr. Martin Hyde. Now, I'm coming in to talk with you. No pistols, mind. Not one.”
“I've promised I won't shoot. You might believe a fellow. But I mean to get away, remember. Just to show you.”
She opened the door after that, a brown, merry Aurelia, behind whom I could see three men, ready to stop any rush. They closed the door behind her after she had entered.