Bellarion smiled. 'Unless you are certain that you can, you had better call the guard. But then, how could you be sure that in that case I should not recall the names you named, which are now forgotten?'
'Ah! You threaten!'
The sharp tone, the catch in her breath, the sudden movement of her hand to her breast showed him that his inference was right.
This lady was engaged in secret practices. And the inference itself displayed the swift activity of his wits; just as his answer displayed them.
'Nay, lady. I show you only that trust me you must, since if you mistrust me you can no more order my arrest than you can set me free.'
'My faith, sir, you are shrewd, for one who's convent-bred.'
'There's a deal of shrewdness, lady, to be learned in convents.' And then, whether the beauty and charm of her so wrought upon him as to breed in him the desire to serve her, or whether he merely offered a bargain, a return for value received and to be received, it is probable that he did not know himself. But he made his proposal. 'If you would trust me, madonna, you might even use me, and so repay yourself.'
'Use you?'
'As a messenger. In the place of him whom you expected. That is, if you have messages to send, as I think you should have.'
'You think it?'