Barbara's eyes drooped beneath Paul's gaze. Why should this handsome young captain interest himself so on her behalf?
"Jacintha tells me that you have never quitted the vicinity of the castle."
"True. It has been my desire to guard against a surprise on the part of your pursuers."
Barbara's face lost its bright expression for a moment.
"My pursuers!" she murmured. "My pursuers! The thought of them haunted me while I lay ill. I dreaded lest I should be carried off in my helpless state. But as six weeks have elapsed I think I may regard the pursuit—if pursuit there were—as over. But tell me, Captain Cressingham,"—how prettily the name fell from her lips!—"what would you have done if my pursuers had appeared?"
"Fought," replied Paul laconically.
"But supposing they had been a dozen in number?"
"No matter. Lambro loves a fight, so do I. Castel Nuovo was built to stand a siege. The door is of massive oak; the lower windows are barred; there are abundant loopholes convenient for taking shots at the enemy. And besides there are the twelve mastiffs, each of which is capable of tackling a man. Trust us, signorina, we should have made a good defence."
It was pleasant to be near such towers of strength as Paul and Lambro, who appeared to regard Austrian gendarmerie with contempt. Then her pleasure became lost in surprise. Was this Englishman really willing to undergo such perils on her behalf? Ay, those, and much more, Barbara, to gain your smiles.
"I am fortunate in my friends," she said, "but rather than expose them to such hazard I think I should prefer to give myself up."