“I would have given my life willingly for what you call a trifle, sir,” said the marquis, with a bow to Osra.

“Then have the trifle and life, too,” said Rudolf, decisively.  “Come in with me, and I will give you your livery.”

When the prince and Monsieur de Merosailles came out again on the drawbridge, the evening had fallen, and it was dark; and their horses stood at the end of the bridge, and by the horses stood the princess.

“Quick!” said she.  “For a peasant who came in, bringing a load of wood, saw a troop of men coming over the crown of the hill, and he says they are the king’s guard.”

“Mount, man!” cried the prince to Monsieur de Merosailles, who was now dressed as a groom.  “Perhaps we can get clear, or perhaps they will not dare to stop me.”

But the marquis hesitated a little, for he did not like to run away; and the princess ran a little way forward, and, shading her eyes with her hand, cried, “See there; I see the gleam of steel in the dark.  They have reached the top of the hill, and are riding down.”

Then Prince Rudolf sprang on his horse, calling again to Monsieur de Merosailles:  “Quick! quick!  Your life hangs on it!”

Then at last the marquis, though he was most reluctant to depart, was about to spring on his horse, when the princess turned and glided back swiftly to them.  And—­let it be remembered that evening had fallen thick and black—­she came to her brother, and put out her hand, and grasped his hand, and said: 

“My lord, I forgive your wrong, and I thank you for your courtesy, and I wish you farewell.”

Prince Rudolf, astonished, gazed at her without speaking.  But she, moving very quickly in spite of the darkness, ran to where Monsieur de Merosailles was about to spring on his horse, and she flung one arm lightly about his neck, and she said: 

“Farewell, dear brother—­God preserve you!  See that no harm comes to my good friend Monsieur de Merosailles.”  And she kissed him lightly on the cheek.  Then she suddenly gave a loud cry of dismay, exclaiming, “Alas, what have I done?  Ah, what have I done?” And she hid her face in her two hands.

Prince Rudolf burst into a loud, short laugh, yet he said nothing to his sister, but again urged the marquis to mount his horse.  And the marquis, who was in a sad tumult of triumph and of woe, leaped up, and they rode out, and, turning their faces towards the forest, set spurs to their horses, and vanished at breakneck speed into the glades.  And no sooner were they gone than the troopers of the king’s guard clattered at a canter up to the end of the bridge, where the Princess Osra stood.  But when their captain saw the princess, he drew rein.

“What is your errand, sir?” she asked, most coldly and haughtily.

“Madam,” said the captain, “we are ordered to bring the Marquis de Merosailles alive or dead into the king’s presence, and we have information that he is in the castle, unless indeed he were one of the horsemen who rode away just now.”