Then she turned to follow him in; but as she moved, she felt her wrist grasped from behind, softly but with the irresistibleness of a handcuff of iron.
Looking round, she caught sight of a sleeve of russet cloth bound about with a green ribbon with gold and emerald tags, and turning she found herself face to face with Ralph Ingle.
Instinctively she struggled to free herself, then perceiving that her strength was no match for his, she stood still.
"I am thy slave still," he whispered. "Give me one kind word, one glance to kindle hope in my heart, and my sword is thine for offence and defence. Nay, 'tis in my power to save thy kinsman, whom I have just seen borne in at thy door. I saw him fall and followed his bearers, sure that they would bring him here."
"'Tis a fair return thou art making for his hospitality."
"Surprise! I feel none. 'Tis what I should look for in one of thy name and race. If I was once deceived in thee, I know thee now for what thou art."
"Harsh words, my lady! Couldst not choose some gentler name?"
"Nay, if I called thee aught else, 'twould be _murderer_."
"Ay, that point convicts thee. 'Tis as though the finger of the Lord were laid upon that emerald tag, and His voice said, 'Thou art the man.'"
"No man told me; but murder will out, though the deed be wrought in the blackness of midnight and the body of the victim lie hid in the shadows of the forest."
"'Tis false. Thou dost but babble to gain time."
"'Tis true. Thy very pallor and trembling proclaim it true. Thou didst slay an unarmed man, alone and unprotected in the wilderness. Worse than that, thy victim was a priest of Holy Church, whose very garb should have been sacred to thee."
"There be many sins heavier than the taking off of a Jesuit."
"Ay, there be heavier sins. Shall I name thee one?"
"Then I count it a heavier sin than the committing of a crime to let another be charged with thy deed, and still baser when thou thyself dost egg on his accusers. Thou _Judas_!"
Ingle's look darkened, and he grasped her wrist still more firmly.
"Thou hast had thy say. Now I will have mine. I will teach thee to call me by a new name."
"Yes," he went on, "I will show thee what I am, and first of all I am thy master."