'Ay, fool, a chain!' he replied, his eyes glaring, his cheeks swelling with impatience. 'A gold chain--with links like walnuts.'
'It is true,' I said stupidly. 'I had. But----'
'Where did you get it?'
I looked away. To answer was easy; to refrain from answering, with his eye upon me, hard. But I thought of Marie Wort. I did not know how the chain had come into her hands, and I asked him a question in return.
'Have you the chain?' I said.
'I have!' he snarled. And then in a sudden outburst of wrath he cried, 'Listen, fool! And then perhaps you will answer me more quickly. I am Hugo of Leuchtenstein, Governor of Cassel and Marburg, and President of the Landgrave's Council. The chain was mine and came back to me. The rogue who stole it from you, and joined himself to my company, blabbed of it, and where he got it. He let my men see it. He would not give it up, and they killed him. Will that satisfy you?' he continued, his face on fire with impatience. 'Then tell me all--all, man, or it will be the worse for you! My time is precious, and I cannot stay!'
I uncovered myself. 'Your excellency,' I stammered, 'the chain was entrusted to me by a--a woman.'
'A woman?' he exclaimed, his eyes lightening. 'Man, you are wringing my heart. A woman with a child?'
I nodded.
'A child three years old?'