Alice and Jeannette, too, with the curiosity of their sex, and with ever-increasing interest, explored the rooms of the castle, marvelling greatly at the many tokens of taste and refinement manifested therein, and which they little expected to find in the castle of a Saxon chieftain. Said Alice, "My interest grows strangely from day to day, Jeannette, in this Saxon chieftain. I see no evidence of the boorishness I have always associated with the lives of the Barons of England. Now also that he is in such sore distress, and hath so sad a fate before him, my heart grieves sorely for him." "Yes, my lady, I cannot help thinking that these Saxons would despise the beastly orgies proceeding under this roof, and outside." "Yes, Jeannette; but what will it be on the morrow, when this Saxon is given over to their cruelty? It makes my blood curdle! Would I knew how to set him free! My heart tells me it would be an act of mercy done to my own people as well as to him; for to spare my people the humiliation and degradation of the morrow's inhumanity were indeed a good deed, whether they would appreciate it or not." "My lady, if you wish it, I warrant we can do it. I know how to set about it. Paul Lazaire mounts guard, and I can coax the simpleton into obeying me. I declare if I had to bid him stand on his head he would do it." "But, Jeannette, that would probably get Paul into trouble. Perhaps it would cost him his life. That would not do." "Well, if you will not let me manage Paul, I cannot tell how to help you." "But cannot we manage it without implicating Paul. I could make a sleeping draught which would put him to rest speedily." "Oh, that would be fine, my lady! Just the very thing! Put it in some mulled ale, and I will dose him." "But how then, Jeannette? Have we courage to open the prison doors? I am afraid our nerves would fail us down in those damp and ghostly cells." "Not at all, my lady. I will go; my heart will not fail me, for it would just suit me to do it." "Well, it sounds strange we should thus plot to deceive our people; but my heart prompts me to do this deed, come what may." "Yes, let us do it; but, as I said, let it be mulled ale, for I declare ale is never too muddy for them, and they will drink it, no matter what stuff you put in it." "But how shall we convey it to him when it is made? That is our next difficulty, Jeannette."