“Ordener,” said he, shaking his head, “I ought to be wise, for I have sinned. Well, I am nothing but an old fool! Ordener, the prisoner has a daughter—”
“Oh,” cried the young man, “General, I wanted to speak to you of her. I ask your protection, father, for that helpless and oppressed young girl.”
“Indeed,” said the governor, gravely, “your request is urgent.”
Ordener recovered himself.
“And why should it not be urgent for a poor captive whose life, and, what is far more precious, her honor, is in danger?”
“Life! honor! Why, I still govern here, and I know nothing of all these horrors! Explain yourself.”
“Noble father, the lives of the prisoner and his defenceless daughter are threatened by an infernal plot.”
“What you say is serious. What proofs have you?”
“The oldest son of a powerful family is even now at Munkholm. He is there to seduce Countess Ethel; he told me so himself.”