'You are nervous, Isolde; one could fancy anything on such a night,' she said soothingly.
'Have you lived so long in Maäsau without knowing that here at Sagan everything is possible? He threatens me, and oh, my God, what shall I do?'
Valerie sat down beside her and put a steady hand upon her arm. She had her own object in this visit, but it must be approached with caution.
'I am here. I will help you!' she said reassuringly.
Isolde sat up and put her arm round her companion's shoulders.
'I must trust you—though——Valerie, there is one person who might be able to help me to-night,' she whispered close to the girl's ear. 'He might save me. But he must come to me—here—now! I dare not leave this room. Simon——' she shivered.
'Who is it?' A new coldness crept into Valerie's voice as she listened.
'Can you not guess? It is Captain Rallywood.'
Valerie had braced herself to meet this, and it only added proof to her own fears for his safety. Come what might, she would undertake any message from Isolde to get the opportunity of warning the Duke's guard of the coming danger, and to tell the fate of that gallant figure tossing to and fro in the battering rush of the Kofn. She drew herself away from Isolde's embrace with a shudder.
'What is the matter with you?' Isolde peered up at her with a quick scrutiny. 'You are shaking all over. Valerie, is it because of him?'