He bade them take two of the old pikes from the pile of arms, tear down a curtain, and with them make a rough litter.
"I must take one more look at my uncle," Elspeth murmured when her companion returned with her, and Nigel opened the door. She paid her last dues of affection, loth to leave her dead to a possibly unceremonious burial at strange hands. But Ottilie had explained the matter to her. Then she came out and lay down upon the litter.
The two musketeers lifted her as if she had weighed but a few pounds, and tramped towards the door.
Her friend walked just beside her. Nigel cast one look round and followed.
Then they made their way to the outskirts of the town beyond the ramparts and the fosses.
When Nigel had with infinite trouble found them privacy and housing for the night, the lady of Thüringen responded graciously enough to his "good night!" adding, "I am glad my dagger failed me, Sir Captain. You are too courteous to die by a woman's hand."