‘That is not enough. He must get away.’
‘There is Jasper’s horse still with us. I will ask Jasper, and you can have that.’
‘No,’ answered the boy, ‘that will not do. We must not take the road this time. We must try the water.’
‘We have a boat,’ said Eve, ‘but papa would never allow it to be used.’
‘Your papa will know nothing about it, nor the prudent Barbara, nor the solemn Jasper. You can get the key and let us have the boat.’
‘I will do what I can, but’—as a sudden thought struck her—’Martin must let me have my ring again. I want it so much. My father has been asking for it.’
‘How selfish you are!’ exclaimed the boy reproachfully. ‘Thinking of your own little troubles when a vast danger menaces our dear Martin. Come with me. You must see Martin and ask him yourself for that ring. I dare not speak of it; he values that ring above everything. You must plead for it yourself with that pretty mouth and those speaking eyes.’
‘I must not; indeed I must not!’
‘Why not? You will not be missed. No one will harm you. You should see the poor fellow, to what he is reduced by love for you. Yes, come and see him. He would never have been here, he would have been far away in safety, but he had the desire to see you again.’
‘Indeed, I cannot accompany you.’