Marjorie Bowen

“ Rome—splendour, power—Jacobea of Martzburg—and only one stranger between him and this consummation; he wondered why he had ever hesitated, ever been horrified; his anticipations became so brilliant that they mounted like winged spirits to the clouds, catching him up with them; he could scarcely breathe in the close atmosphere of excitement; a thousand questions to which he might have demanded answer of Dirk occurred to him and stung with impatience his elated heart. ”

“ Dirk repressed a movement of impatience.
"Come, you know. Shall I speak plainly?"
"Certes!—yes," answered Theirry, still with averted face.
"There is a man in her way."
Theirry looked up now; his eyes showed pale in his flushed face. "Who must die as Joris of Thuringia died?" he asked.
"Yes."
Theirry moistened his lips. "Am I to help you?"
"Are we not one—inseparable? The reward will be magnificent."
Theirry put his hand to a damp brow.
"Who is the man?"
"Hush!" whispered Dirk, peering through the halo of the candle-flame. "It is the Emperor."
"Her husband! I will not do it, Dirk!" ”

“ Dirk smiled sombrely. "That is true. Yet you would waste your life dallying round the places where you may sometimes see her face."
Theirry bit his lip. "Oh, you think me a fool—to falter, to regret;—-but what have my sins ever done for me? There are many honest men better placed than I—and without the prospect of hell to blast their souls." ”

“ I think ye are a faithless friend."
"That am not I—ye know more of me than any man—I care more for ye than for any man——"
"Or woman?" added Dirk dryly.
An impatient colour came into Theirry's cheeks; he looked resolutely at the red roses. "That is unworthy in you, Dirk—is it disloyal to you to know a lady—to—to—admire a lady, to strive to serve and please a lady?" He turned his charming face, and, in his effort to conciliate, his voice was gentle and winning. "Truly she is the sweetest of her kind, Dirk ”

“ THE SNARING OF THEIRRY Dirk and the witch kept company until they reached the gates of Frankfort. There the young man took his own way through the busy town, and Nathalie slipped aside into the more retired streets; many of the passers-by saluted Dirk, some halted to speak with him; the brilliant young doctor of rhetoric, with a reputation made fascinating by an air of mystery, was a desired acquaintance among the people of Frankfort. ”

“ Her head and face were wrapped in a silver gauze. She stood quite still, half withdrawn behind the curtain, only the finely shaped white arm that held it back fully revealed.
Her appearance impressed Theirry with unnameable dread and terror; he remained rigid at the window gazing at her, not able, if he would, to fly. Through the veil that concealed her face he could see restless dark eyes and the line of dark hair; he thought that she must see him, that she looked at him even as he looked at her, but he could not stir. Slowly she came forward into the room ”

“ Mostly, I think—do we not all have golden dreams of Rome? Balthasar—ye mind him, he is Margrave of East Flanders now, since his father was killed at the boar hunt—and powerful, he is mad to cross the Alps—he has great influence with the Emperor. Indeed, I think he loves him. ”

“ Theirry pulled at the crimson tassels on his slashed sleeves. "It is not that I am afraid," he said, flushing.
"Certes! you are afraid," mocked Dirk. "Afraid of God, of justice, maybe of man—but I tell you that these things are nought to us." He paused, lifted his eyes and lowered them again. "Our destiny is not of our shaping;—we take the weapons laid to our hands and use them as we are bid. Life and death shall both serve us to our appointed end."
Theirry came to the other side of the table and gazed, fearfully, across at him. "Who are you?" he questioned softly.
Dirk did not answer ”