"Do you countenance him?"
"For a time. Listen—we want men in the mines; my late husband sent very few to them of late years, and therefore they are getting short of men there."
"Aye, aye."
"The thing will be for you to feign ignorance of the man, and then you will be able to get him seized, and placed in the mines, for such men as he are dangerous, and carry poisoned weapons."
"Would he not be better out of the world at once; there would be no escape, and no future contingencies?"
"No—no. I will have no more lives taken; and he will be made useful; and, moreover, he will have time to reflect upon the mistake he had made in threatening me."
"He was paid for the job, and he had no future claim. But what about the child?"
"Oh, he may remain for some time longer here with us."
"It will be dangerous to do so," said the count; "he is now ten years old, and there is no knowing what may be done for him by his relatives."
"They dare not enter the gates of this castle Morven."