“Retire to your room,” he said, “and bid your women gather together whatever you wish to carry with you.”
“I’d rather stay where I am,” protested Hilda, “being anxious to hear what your plans are. I confess I don’t know how you can emerge from this Castle in safety.”
“Fräulein Hilda, the first duty of a chief lieutenant is obedience.”
“Refusing that, what will you do?”
“I shall call two of my men, cause you to be transported to your room, and order them to see that you do not leave it again.”
“Remaining here when you have departed?”
“That, of course.”
“You will take the gold, however.”
“Certainly; the gold obeys me; doing what I ask of it.”
For a few moments the girl stood there, gazing defiance at him, but although a slight smile hovered about his lips, she realized in some subtle way—woman’s intuition, perhaps—that he meant what he said. Her eyes lowered, and an expression of pique came into her pretty face; then she breathed a long sigh.