And her own voice answered, joyful and triumphant.
“I’m here, Armand, I’m here.”
What need to tell what he said, as reining in close he drew her over to him! The words were a bit incoherent, may be, but Dehra understood; and presently she put her arms around his neck and kissed him.
“Come, Sire,” she said, “let us go on—and when we get to the Castle, Your Majesty shall have again the Book of Laws.”
“The Book! you cannot mean you’ve been in Lotzen Castle?”
She laughed her merry little laugh. “And out again—and the Book with us, from under our dear cousin’s very eyes.”
“You brave girl!—you foolish child!—you wonder among women!” he marvelled.
She put out her hand, and took his; and so they rode, back through the valley and up the avenue to the Castle, and as they went she told him the story of the night.
“But better than the Book, sweetheart,” she ended, as they drew up before the entrance, “it saves you for Valeria and for me; had you been there, helpless under his guns, not all the troops in the Kingdom would have held Lotzen’s hand.”
“And better than all else,” he said, as he swung her down, “is your own dear self.”