A few minutes later he left the room.  Not a word was spoken in the room until the sound of horse’s hoofs without told that he had ridden off.

As the door closed the countess and Thekla had dropped their work and sat anxiously awaiting the continuance of the conversation.  The count was the first to speak.

“How mean you, Malcolm?  How think you it possible that Thekla can escape, and where could she go?”

“I like not to make the proposal,” Malcolm said gravely, “nor under any other circumstances should I think of doing so; but in a desperate position desperate measures must be adopted.  It is impossible that in your present state you can escape hence, and the countess will not leave you; but what is absolutely urgent is that your daughter should be freed from the strait.  Save myself you have no friends here; and therefore, count, if she is to escape it must be through my agency and she must be committed wholly to my care.  I know it is a great responsibility; but if you and the countess can bring yourselves to commit her to me I swear to you, as a Scottish gentleman and a Protestant soldier, that I will watch over her as a brother until I place her in all honour in safe hands.”

The count looked at the countess and at Thekla, who sat pale and still.

“We can trust you, Malcolm Graheme,” he said after a pause.  “There are few, indeed, into whose hands we would thus confide our daughter; but we know you to be indeed, as you say, a Scottish gentleman and a Protestant soldier.  Moreover, we know you to be faithful, honourable, and true.  Therefore we will, seeing that there is no other mode of escape from the fate which awaits her, confide her wholly to you.  And now tell us what are your plans?”

CHAPTER XXI FLIGHT

I thank you, count, and you, dear lady,” Malcolm said gratefully, “for the confidence you place in me, and will carry out my trust were it to cost me my life.  My plan is a simple one.  The guard will be changed in half an hour’s time.  I have brought hither a suit of boy’s garments, which I must pray the Countess Thekla to don, seeing that it will be impossible for her to sally out in her own garb.  I show my pass to the sentry, who will deem that my companion entered with me, and is my apprentice, and will suppose that, since the sentry who preceded him suffered him to enter with me he may well pass him out without question.  In the town I have a wagon in readiness, and shall, disguised as a peasant, start with it this evening.  Thekla will be in the bottom covered with straw.  We shall travel all night.

“Tomorrow, when your attendant discovers that your daughter has escaped, she will at once take the news to the governor.  The sentries will all be questioned, and it will be found that, whereas but one clockmaker came in two went out.  The city will be searched and the country round scoured but if the horsemen overtake me they will be looking for a craftsman and his apprentice, and will not suspect a solitary peasant with a wagon.