I don't see that it is possible."
"Twenty ducats are worth earning," Malcolm said quietly.
"Very well worth earning," the woman replied, "but a costly day's
work if they lead to a prison and flogging, if not to the gallows."
"But we must take care that you run no risk," Malcolm said. "Surely
such a clever head as I see you have can contrive some way for me
to get in."
"Yes; it might be managed," the girl said thoughtfully. "The orders
were strict just at first, but seeing that the count cannot move
from his couch, and that the countess and the fraulein have no
motive in seeking to leave him, the strictness has been relaxed.
The orders of the sentry are stringent that neither of the ladies
shall be allowed to set foot outside the door, but I do not think
they have any orders to prevent others from going in and out had
they some good excuse for their visit."
"Then it is not so impossible after all," Malcolm said with a smile,
"for I have an excellent excuse.
"What is that?" the woman asked.
"The clock in the count's chamber has stopped, and it wearies him
to lie there and not know how the time passes, so he has requested
you to fetch in a craftsman to set it going again."
"A very good plan," the girl said. "There is a clock, and it shall
stop this afternoon. I will find out from the sentry as I go in
whether he has any orders touching the admission of strangers.
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