“By no means,” Malcolm replied laughing, for the girl was really good looking, “and were it not that other thoughts occupy me at present you might well have another captive to look after; and now tell me, how is it possible for me to obtain an interview with the count?”

“And the countess, and the Fraulein Thekla,” the girl said laughing, “for I suppose you are the young Scottish officer of whom the young countess is always talking.  I don’t see that it is possible.”

“Twenty ducats are worth earning,” Malcolm said quietly.

“Very well worth earning,” the woman replied, “but a costly day’s work if they lead to a prison and flogging, if not to the gallows.”

“But we must take care that you run no risk,” Malcolm said.  “Surely such a clever head as I see you have can contrive some way for me to get in.”

“Yes; it might be managed,” the girl said thoughtfully.  “The orders were strict just at first, but seeing that the count cannot move from his couch, and that the countess and the fraulein have no motive in seeking to leave him, the strictness has been relaxed.  The orders of the sentry are stringent that neither of the ladies shall be allowed to set foot outside the door, but I do not think they have any orders to prevent others from going in and out had they some good excuse for their visit.”

“Then it is not so impossible after all,” Malcolm said with a smile, “for I have an excellent excuse.

“What is that?” the woman asked.

“The clock in the count’s chamber has stopped, and it wearies him to lie there and not know how the time passes, so he has requested you to fetch in a craftsman to set it going again.”

“A very good plan,” the girl said.  “There is a clock, and it shall stop this afternoon.  I will find out from the sentry as I go in whether he has any orders touching the admission of strangers.  If he has I will go across to the prison and try and get a pass for you.  I shall come to market in the morning.”

So saying, with a wave of her hand she tripped on towards the house, which was now near at hand, leaving Malcolm to arrange his plans for next day.  His first care was to purchase a suit of clothes such as would be worn by a boy of the class to which he appeared to belong.  Then he went to one of the small inns patronized by the peasants who brought their goods into market, and without difficulty bargained with one of them for the purchase of a cart with two oxen, which were to remain at the inn until he called for them.  Then he bought a suit of peasant’s clothes, after which, well satisfied with the day’s work, he returned to his lodging.  In the morning he again met the servant.

“It was well I asked,” she said, “for the sentry had orders to prevent any, save nobles and officers, from passing in.  However, I went to the prison, and saw one of the governor’s deputies, and told him that the count was fretting because his clock had stopped, and, as while I said so I slipped five ducats the countess had given me for the purpose into his hand, he made no difficulty about giving me the pass.  Here it is.  Now,” she said, “I have earned my twenty ducats.”