As
you love me, as you are my knight, keep this tryst.
In distress and peril,
THY WIFE.
Folded with it was a line in the commander's hand and with his
signature: "The bearer may pass without the palisade at his
pleasure."
I read the first paper again, refolded it, and rose to my feet. "Who
brought this, sirrah?" I demanded.
His answer was glib enough: "One of the governor's servants. He
said as how there was no harm in the letter, and the gold was
good."
"When was this?"
"Just now. No, I did n't know the man."
I saw no way to discover whether or not he lied. Drawing out
another gold piece, I laid it upon the table. He eyed it greedily,
edging nearer and nearer.
"For leaving this door unlocked," I said.
His eyes narrowed and he moistened his lips, shifting from one
foot to the other.
I put down a second piece. "For opening the outer door," I said.
He wet his lips again, made an inarticulate sound in his throat, and
finally broke out with, "The commander will nail my ears to the
pillory."
"You can lock the doors after me, and know as little as you choose
in the morning. No gain without some risk."
"That's so," he agreed, and made a clutch at the gold.
I swept it out of his reach. "First earn it," I said dryly. "Look at the
foot of the pillory an hour from now and you'll find it.
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