“No—­upon my hopes of future bliss I could not, maiden!  You must not trifle with your life and honour, but let me in.”

“And if I did, what could you do against such numbers?  They are four to one—­would soon overpower you, and one more life would be lost.”

“Not if you have arms; and I think your father would not be left without them.  I fear them not—­you know that I am resolute.”

“I do indeed—­and now you’d risk your life for those you did assail.  I thank you—­thank you kindly, sir—­but dare not open the door.”

“Then, maiden, if you’ll not admit me, here will I now remain; without arms, and but ill able to contend with four armed villains; but still, here will I remain and prove my truth to one I will protect against any odds—­yes, even here!”

“Then shall I be thy murderer!—­but that must not be.  Oh! sir—­swear, swear by all that’s holy, and by all that’s pure, that you do not deceive me.”

“I swear by thyself, maiden, than all to me more sacred!”

The casement closed, and in a short time a light appeared above.  In a minute or two more the door was opened to Philip by the fair daughter of Mynheer Poots.  She stood with the candle in her right hand, the colour in her cheeks varying—­now flushing red, and again deadly pale.  Her left hand was down by her side, and in it she held a pistol half concealed.  Philip perceived this precaution on her part but took no notice of it; he wished to reassure her.

“Maiden!” said he, not entering, “if you still have doubts—­if you think you have been ill-advised in giving me admission—­there is yet time to close the door against me:  but for your own sake I entreat you not.  Before the moon is up, the robbers will be here.  With my life I will protect you, if you will but trust me.  Who indeed could injure one like you?”

She was indeed (as she stood irresolute and perplexed from the peculiarity of her situation, yet not wanting in courage when, it was to be called forth) an object well worthy of gaze and admiration.  Her features thrown into broad light and shade by the candle which at times was half extinguished by the wind—­her symmetry of form and the gracefulness and singularity of her attire—­were matter of astonishment to Philip.  Her head was without covering, and her long hair fell in plaits behind her shoulders; her stature was rather under the middle size, but her form perfect; her dress was simple but becoming, and very different from that usually worn by the young women of the district.  Not only her features but her dress would at once have indicated to a traveller that she was of Arab blood, as was the fact.

She looked in Philip’s face as she spoke—­earnestly, as if she would have penetrated into his inmost thoughts; but there was a frankness and honesty in his bearing, and a sincerity in his manly countenance, which reassured her.  After a moment’s hesitation she replied—­