the more ready since any alternative was really to be preferred to their
present situation. In danger they already stood from those that followed
as they well knew; and now it seemed to them that by obeying one who was
armed with such credentials, it might be theirs to escape that danger.
But even as I was convincing them, by the same arguments was I sowing
doubts in the lady's subtler mind.

"You are attached to that house?" quoth she, in accents of mistrust. She
wanted to say more. I saw it in her eyes that she was wondering was there
treachery underlying an action so singularly disinterested as to justify
suspicion.

"Madonna," said I, "if you would save yourself I implore that you will
trust me. Very soon your pursuers will be appearing on those heights, and
then your chance of flight will be lost to you. I will ask you but this:
Did I propose to betray you into their hands, could I have done better
than to have left you with your grooms?"

Her face lighted. A sunny smile broke on me from her heavenly eyes.

"I should have thought of that," said she. And what more she would have
added I put off by urging her to mount.

Sitting the man's saddle as best she might--well enough, indeed, to fill
us all with surprise and admiration--she took her leave of me with pretty
words of thanks, which again I interrupted.

"You have but to follow the road," said I, "and it will bring you straight
to Cagli. The distance is a short league, and you should come there
safely. Farewell, Madonna!"