"Had I known that my wife was sending to you I would not have
suffered her to do so, for the risk is altogether too great, and
yet, indeed, I am truly glad to see you again."
Thekla gave Malcolm her hand, but said nothing. She had now reached
an age when girls feel a strange shyness in expressing their
feelings; but her hand trembled with pleasure as she placed it in
Malcolm's, and her cheek flushed hotly as, in accordance with the
custom of the times, she presented it to his kiss.
"Now," the count said, "do not let us waste time; tell us quickly
by what miracle you have arrived here, and have penetrated to what
is really my prison. You must be quick, for we have much to say,
and your visit must be a short one for every third day the governor
of the prison pays me a visit to see how I am getting on, and I
expect that he will be here ere long."
"Then," Malcolm said, "I had best prepare for his coming, for
assuredly I am not going to hurry away."
So saying, he lifted down the great clock which stood on a bracket
on the wall, and placed it on a side table. "I am a clockmaker,"
he said, "and am come to put this machine, whose stopping has
annoyed you sadly, into order."
So saying, he took some tools from his basket, removed the works
of the clock, and, taking them in pieces, laid them on the table.
"I spent much of my time at Nuremberg," he said, in answer to the
surprised exclamations of the count, "in learning the mysteries of
horology, and can take a clock to pieces and can put it together
again with fair skill.
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