"Who may you be, crying and wringing your hands here in the street?" the woman asked. "You call to my mind a little maid who came to me on Friday looking for a place and then ran away from me. Or perhaps you are the same?" "No, I am not the same," said Elsalill, "but if, as I think, you are the hostess of the Town Cellars, then I know what maid it is you speak of." "Then you can tell me why she took herself off and has not come back," said the hostess. "She left you," said Elsalill, "because she did not choose to hear the talk of all the evildoers who gather in your tavern." "Many a wild companion comes to my tavern," said the hostess, "but among them are no evildoers." "Yet the maid heard three that sat there talking among themselves," said Elsalill, "and one of them said: 'Drink, brother! Herr Arne's hoard is not yet done.'" When Elsalill had said these words she thought: "Now I have helped my foster sister and told what I heard. Now may God help me that this woman pay no heed to my words; so I shall be quit." But when she saw in the hostess's face that she believed her, she was afraid and would have run away. But before she had time to move, the hostess's heavy hand had taken firm hold of her so that she could not escape. "If you can witness that such words have been uttered in my tavern, mistress," said the hostess, "then you were best not to run away. For you must go with me to those who have the power to seize the murderers and bring them to justice." CHAPTER VIII SIR ARCHIE'S FLIGHT Elsalill came into the tavern wrapt in her long cloak and went straight to a table where Sir Archie sat drinking with his friends. A crowd of customers sat about the tables in the cellar, but Elsalill took no heed of all the wondering glances that followed her, as she went and sat down beside the man she loved. Her only thought was to be with Sir Archie in the few moments of freedom which were left to him. When Sir Archie saw Elsalill come and sit by him, he rose and moved with her to a table that stood far down the room, hidden by a pillar. She could see that he was displeased at her coming to meet him in a place where it was not the custom for young maids to show themselves. "I have no long message to bring you, Sir Archie," said Elsalill; "but I would have you know that I cannot go with you to your own country." When Sir Archie heard Elsalill speak thus he was in despair, since he feared that, if he lost Elsalill, the evil thoughts would again take possession of him. "Why will you not go with me, Elsalill?" he asked. Elsalill was as pale as death. Her thoughts were so confused that she scarce knew what answer she made him. "It is a perilous thing to follow a soldier of fortune," she said. "For none can tell whether such a man will keep his plighted troth." Before Sir Archie had time to answer, a sailor came into the tavern.