But as it was, I faced him down; and winning him, won all.  There was a muttered oath from Falconnet, a tremulous cry of rage from where her father stood; and then I sought my lady’s eyes to read my sentence in them.

She gave me but a glance, and though I tried as I had never tried before to read her meaning it was hid from me.  But this I marked; that she did draw aside from me, and that her face was cold and still, and that her lips were pressed together as if not all nor any should ever make her speak again.

At this sharp crisis, when a look or word would cost me more than death and my dear lady her honor, it was the colonel who, all unwittingly, stood my friend.  A breath of doubt upon my lie and we were lost; and once I thought he would have breathed it.  But he did not.  Instead, he broke out in a laugh, with a gibe flung first at Gilbert Stair and then at Falconnet.

“God save us!  I give you joy, Mr. Stair, and you, Sir Francis.  These two have duped you bravely.  By heavens!  Sir Frank; ’twas you who should have had the sword thrust in the duel.  In that event you might have stood in Captain Ireton’s shoes, and so had the priest fetched for your benefit.”  Then he turned to Margery with a bow that had no touch of mockery in it.  “I crave your pardon, Madam; I knew not you were pleading for your husband’s life an hour ago.  It grieves me that I may not spare him to you longer than the night, but war is cruel at its best.”

She stood like any statue done in cold Carrara while he spoke; and when she made no sign he gave the word to recommit me.

“Take him away, Lieutenant Tybee, and see he has a bribe-proof man this time to keep him company.  Madam Ireton, I’ll put you on your honor:  you may have access to him, but there must be no messages carried in or out.  To your quarters, gentlemen.  We must ride far and hard to-morrow.”

When his final word had set her free, my frozen maiden came to life and ran to throw herself in helpless sobbings, not upon her father, as you would think, but upon the good priest.  And it was Father Matthieu who led her, still crying softly, out of the throng and up the low stair; and now I marked that all the rough soldiery stood aside and made way for her with never a man among them to scoff or sneer or point a gibe.

At her going, Tybee drew his sword and cut the cord that bound me.

“These youngling cubs are over-cautious, Captain Ireton.  We shall not make it harder for each other than we must,” he said, with bluff good nature.  And then:  “Will you lead the way to your room, sir?”—­this to give the youngling cub another lesson, I suppose.

I walked beside him to the stair, and when I stumbled, being weak and spent, he took my arm and steadied me, and I did think it kindly done.  At my own door he gave me precedence again, saying, with a touch of the grateful Old World courtesy, “After you, sir,” and standing aside to let me enter first.  When we were both within he touched upon the colonel’s mandate.