XVI. MY LADY SCATTERS THE FREEBOOTERS AND CAPTURES THEIR CHIEF
Greusel appeared on one of the balconies, and called down to his leader.
“There are,” he said, “a number of women in the western rooms of the Castle. They have bolted their doors, but tell me that the rooms contain the Pfalzgravine von Stahleck and other noble ladies, with their tirewomen. What am I to do?”
“Place a guard in the corridor, Greusel, to make sure that these ladies communicate with no one outside the fortress.”
“I thought it well,” explained Greusel, “not to break in the doors without definite instructions from you to that effect.”
“Quite right. Tell the ladies we will not molest them.”
“You molested me!” cried the handsome girl in the courtyard, her dark eyes flashing in the glow of the torches.
“This person,” said the unemotional Greusel, betraying no eye for beauty, “called us every uncomplimentary name she could think of. We were the scum of the earth, according to her account.”
The girl laughed scornfully.