"We came, my brother Ferdinand and I, to strengthen the hands of the Elector Maximilian, so that he fell not into the sin of neutrality."
"You and Ferdinand?" There was a world of inquiry in his tone.
"Yes, Nigel! Ferdinand was to play the fisherman and I the bait." She sprang from him and dropped a stately curtsey, pulling her face straight, serene and wonderful to behold for any one, but to Nigel not the Queen of Sheba nor Zenobia of Palmyra would have seemed more wonderful.
"And I the bait!" she repeated and laughed.
"But Maximilian had hopelessly broken his neutrality by the time you arrived!" said Nigel.
"We could not know it till we came! And then I told the Elector what I had told him in any hazard, I would not wed him were he twenty times Elector and the Great Mogul besides. It is not in my blood or my humour."
Nigel's eyes spoke the admiration for her boldness that he felt.
"Then you have tricked the Emperor, and Father Lamormain, and flouted Maximilian——"
"To follow you, Tall Captain, or carry you off in my arms, or what shall I do? I had no certain knowledge you were here. I had learned that the camp had been broken up, that Tilly had retired to Ingolstadt, and when I heard that the wounded were sent on to Ratisbon I began my search, wondering how much of you I might find."
"It is naught!" said Nigel, getting up. "I have lost blood. I have a scratch in the ribs, a thrust of pike in my left shoulder, but they heal. A Jesuit is living with me, Captain von Grätz, salving me, preaching to me, and doing military duty too."