"Then bring him in, bring him in. Why do you wait?" exclaimed the girl, half-rising from her reclining position. "I cannot afford to have fools about me in such times as these."
"You haven't," the woman answered bluntly, evidently quite used to the petulant moods of her mistress. "I was one when I came out of Devon to a heathen place like this; but that time is past." And she went to the door and beckoned to a man to come in. As he entered she went out, closing the door behind her. When she had gone the man dropped swiftly on one knee by the couch.
"Well, Dumitru?"
"He returned to-day," said the man, rising and standing erect. "He went straight to the lodging of this English Captain."
"And then?"
"To Court, Princess."
"And his mission, Dumitru—was it in my interests, think you?"
The man made a fierce clicking sound with his tongue.
"Ah, no, no, no; and again a hundred times, no. He is for the Queen a little, and for himself very much. Have you still a doubt, even now? A sudden death should be his reward."
"Patience, Dumitru."