"Maidens have not been wont to say me nay," he said, strutting around as vainly as a peacock.
"But what hath all this to do with me?"
"Ah, yes!" he cried; "I had forgotten. Otho hath embittered my father against you. He hath warned all the servants against you. You are to be kept here until Otho is wedded to Nancy."
"And then?"
"I cannot say yet. But if Otho hath his will it will go ill with you. But I have brains and power as well as Otho. I marked you last night, and I know that you, too, love the sight of a man."
I could not help smiling at the fellow's vanity. But I said nothing.
"You refused Otho's conditions last night, and you are here because of it. Look you, I will get you out of this if you like."
"How?"
"Oh, Otho hath not everything his own way. I have friends as well as he. If you will help me, you shall be free. Is it to be a bargain?"
"How help you?"