The maiden drew back. "For Heaven's sake, what can you have to say to me of that kind?"
The listener must leave her place quickly, for she must reach the oak door before the lovers stepped through the recess of the altar picture into the passage, otherwise the light of the torch shining in when they opened the door would betray that somebody had been watching for them; and then must they kill her, and she did not wish to lose her life so cheaply. She had closed the door before the maiden had allowed herself to be persuaded to follow her lover. Idalia concealed herself again in the room of the beautiful women of old. She leaned against one of the eternal sleepers, concealed her face in her veil, and hid the lantern under her dark cloak. Soon she heard the creak of the door, gliding steps, and the clink of spurs.
"I tremble," said the maiden.
"What do you fear when I am with you?"
"Everything, and myself."
"I will defend you against the whole world."
"And against myself?"
"Do you not love me still?"
"Because I do love thee, I fear for myself."
"If you do love me, you will come with me."