He, meantime, being a blithe, courageous young midshipman, was gayly chattering with his protectress. There he was laughing at her good-naturedly as she trembled for his sake, and chattering broken German as best he could. Wealth is a good thing, and health a better; but surely high spirited hope is worth more than the philosopher's stone.
"No, Mademoiselle,—I could bear the dark room no longer. Better an hour in the light of your blue eyes than an age in that dark room!"
"Still—nevertheless—it is dangerous to leave the room. The burgomaster"—
"Cannot see all the way here from the town; besides, if he could, your presence would dazzle him, and I should be safe."
"So you can trust your secret with me,—a woman?"
"I would trust it with two women,—three,—for with every disclosure there would be a fear the less that I should be found. You cannot comprehend that,—now consider."
"La! I cannot."
"How good you are! How would they punish you, if they learned the truth?"
"Oh, a good heart—I do think I have a good heart—don't weigh this way and that when there is a good action to be done."
"And done for the sake of a poor stranger."