I wrung my hands.
'Why was I born?' I lamented. 'And why did my father send me away from home?'
'Do you consent, madam?' demanded the ruffian who had me in his power.
I started violently. The outlook was appalling.
'May I see Sir Hubert Blair once? Just once, that I may take my leave of him?' I asked beseechingly.
'No, no. That is too much to ask.'
'But, unless I see him I cannot consent,' I said, temporizing. 'You see,' a little hope came into my heart, 'I am not sure whether you are speaking the truth about him, or not. He was certainly in a desperate state—one against six—when I saw him last, but he is tremendously strong and he had his sword, therefore he may have escaped.'
'I tell you we took him prisoner with you.'
'Unless I see him, I cannot believe he is a prisoner here,' I persisted.
'Ho! So you doubt me?'