“Not, so to speak, about me.”
“Then take this. It is something. Why not?”
“Because directly they come in here they’ll search me. Put it away, please.”
She did so, talking fast. “I will help you. I will watch. And you will take your chance—you are very brave. If you could once get out. There are the horses.”
“Exactly. It had occurred to me. If I could get the horses.”
“I’ll try my best. I’ll watch. Hush.”
Swift as a lizard she glided into the outer room, and begun to hum merrily as she picked up the plates.
They had come back. Dyke heard them lock the outer door and drop a cross-bar into its socket. Then, obedient to an order, the woman entered the inner room carrying the two candles in the bottles. The pale captain of the revels followed her, pointed with his hand, and she set the candles on the table. Martinez had come in too. He dropped some sacking and a coil of rope upon the floor-boards near the door, and stood there. The woman went out, glancing back at Dyke. The captain called after, telling her to get wine ready.
“Now we will talk,” he said, “and perhaps drink. But first of all—if you permit—”
“Oh, that’s all right,” said Dyke. “I have no weapon about me of any sort or kind.”