I have already informed you that, in his solicitude for
her welfare, his majesty has been good enough to order that the
young countess shall be placed in the care of the lady superior of
the Convent of St. Catherine."
A few minutes later he left the room. Not a word was spoken in
the room until the sound of horse's hoofs without told that he had
ridden off.
As the door closed the countess and Thekla had dropped their work
and sat anxiously awaiting the continuance of the conversation.
The count was the first to speak.
"How mean you, Malcolm? How think you it possible that Thekla can
escape, and where could she go?"
"I like not to make the proposal," Malcolm said gravely, "nor under
any other circumstances should I think of doing so; but in a desperate
position desperate measures must be adopted. It is impossible that
in your present state you can escape hence, and the countess will
not leave you; but what is absolutely urgent is that your daughter
should be freed from the strait. Save myself you have no friends
here; and therefore, count, if she is to escape it must be through
my agency and she must be committed wholly to my care. I know it
is a great responsibility; but if you and the countess can bring
yourselves to commit her to me I swear to you, as a Scottish
gentleman and a Protestant soldier, that I will watch over her as
a brother until I place her in all honour in safe hands.
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