At his kind words Marie bent her head, and for the first time in her life her heart was filled with the fresh spring-water of purest pleasure. And what wonder if a little of it overflowed into her eyes? CHAPTER XVII JACK SCARLETT CALLS HIMSELF A FOOL Wat and his companion passed along the deserted streets of Amersfort, keeping carefully to those which were darkest and least frequented. For a space neither spoke. But as they were crossing a wide, deserted square, the Little Marie broke the silence with a startling speech. "I think by this time he will be dead," she said, simply, as though she had said that it rained. "Think _who_ will be dead?" queried Wat, stopping instantly and facing her. "Why, your enemy!" replied the Little Marie, calmly; "but let us go on lest the watch should come by and stop us." "My enemy!" exclaimed Walter, putting his hand to his brow like one bewildered. "Aye," said Marie, "the man you showed me and told me was your enemy--the dark man called Barra, the provost-marshal. I, the Little Marie, struck him in the side with a knife as he was mounting his horse to ride away--methinks I know whither. At any rate, it was on an evil quest. He rides on no others. Did I not tell you that he was my enemy before he was yours?" "Struck my Lord Barra--with a knife, Marie?" stammered Wat. His slow Northern blood had not dreamed of such swift vengeance. "Aye," said the girl, anxiously; "did I not do right? He was mine enemy, true. He it was who first brought me hither, left me friendless in this city of Satan, made me that which men think me. But had that been all his fault he might have lived. After all, that sin was mine as well as his. I struck him because he was your enemy, and because you hated him. Did I not well?" "Marie," said Wat, very soberly, "you and I are as good as dead for this. Did any see you strike?" "Aye, marry, there were," she replied, carelessly; "but I was well wrapped about in a red cloak and wore the cap and ear-plates of a peasant woman of Frisia. There were several that stood curiously about as I went near to hand him my petition at his own door. But what with the night, the reeling of the torches, and the instant confusion, none put out a hand to stay me as I went away. And I think he will surely be dead by this!" She spoke the words dispassionately, like one who has done an unpleasing duty and has no further concern nor stake in the matter.