"Well," said I, "the hour is late; here is midnight tolling in the steeple of the great church--allow me to act properly as your cavalier, and I shall be delighted." "Many thanks, señor," she replied, and took my proffered hand. My heart beat like lightning; my head became giddy. Was it possible that I could be alone--at midnight, too--with that beautiful being, half woman, half fairy? I knew not what to say, and the light pressure of her little hand on mine, sent every moment a thrill to my heart, but then the other lay on the haft of a dagger!...... We seem to love very truly at twenty--then it is quite an enthusiasm, a second nature that can feed itself on smiles and sighs; but, with all this, I could not help reflecting that Prudentia was leading me a devil of a distance. I thought of my guard, and trembled lest Sir David should discover my absence--a catastrophe which would lead to inevitable degradation, and realise all the prophecies of my father. My companion addressed me-- "Señor, you have become very silent--cannot you speak, to enliven this dreary road?" "I was thinking, señora, how charming you looked last night--and how adorably you sang." "A great many have told me that fifty times." "Then you must have a great many lovers?" "Do you think that all who see me, love me?" "If I judge from my own heart, I would say----" "What----" "Yes--that they must be compelled to do so," I added, with a tremulous voice. "Oh, that is delightful! but recollect, señor, that though I shall be most happy to have you for my friend, my lover you cannot be." "Come--that is not bad," said I, assuming somewhat of her tone of raillery, while her frankness charmed me. "I must, of course, be your friend first, señora." "And then----" she added archly. "Ah! there is no saying what I may be." "Oh! 'tis quite a compact--we shall be friends!" she added, laughing and clapping her hands. "I trust you have not much further to go," said I, as we approached the muddy margin of the Elbe; "for I fear me greatly, I am already liable to be tried by a court-martial." "_Consejo de guerra?_" she repeated, turning on me her bright eyes, which shone like stars through the holes in her mask. "I should be miserable if I occasioned that; but you need come no farther. My husband's messenger is standing under yonder tree, and, as I have no wish that you should hear all the tender messages my Reichardt sends me, I beg you will stand here until I return." "By that wicked smile I see you have no husband." "You shall see that I have; but on your honour, as a soldier and cavalier, do not follow me, and permit none to approach us." "Whoever does so, must pass over my body," said I, unsheathing my claymore.