"For heaven's sake, speak, Countess!"
"The tale is untrue," she said in a low voice, "and yet—"
"Yes, yes; tell me. I have pledged my honor; trample on it if you will, only tell me the truth now."
"I have been tempted," she said. "Yes, you shall hear the truth. I have been tempted, perhaps even I have stumbled, but I have not fallen. I am a woman first, then a conspirator, and I have had many idle hours. Look into my eyes, read my secret if you can and judge me. I was tempted, and the King's words seemed for a moment to help my decision. I did not promise to betray, but I did promise to think of betraying."
"To gain time, that was it, merely to gain time," said Ellerey.
"No; I think when I promised I had almost decided to act."
"Ah, how could you!" Ellerey exclaimed.
"You have heard the story; were you told the bribe the King offered?"
Ellerey did not answer, but Frina understood in a moment that he did know.
"Yes, Captain Ellerey, that tempted me; but with it came a clearer knowledge, and I saw that for me only one road lay open. I have taken it. Maritza is in a room from which there is an escape. The King suspects me. He has surrounded my house with soldiers; presently they will hammer at my closed doors, and I shall stay to face them; but Maritza will have gone, and you will go with her. She would stay in Sturatzberg to fight with those who love her cause; only you can persuade her to go. Do you understand, only you? Go now and wake her. Hannah has the key of that secret way. If in my temptation I have been trapped into showing that I have power in Sturatzberg, that I have knowledge of this conspiracy and the conspirators, I have opened the way of escape too. I am prepared to meet the King's wrath. Go to Maritza, and think less hardly of me."