es ago. That was she who
went out as you entered!'

A curse of astonishment and regret burst from Smid....

'Had I but known her! By the soul of my fathers, she should have found
that it was easier to come here than to go home again!'

'Hush, Smid! Better as it is. Boy, if I put her into your power, dare
you carry her off?'

Philammon hesitated one moment.

'What I dare you know already. But it would be an unlawful thing,
surely, to use violence.'

'Settle your philosopher's doubts for yourself. I have made my offer. I
should have thought that a man in his senses could give but one answer,
much more a mad monk.'

'You forget the money matters, prince,' said Smid, with a smile.

'I do not. But I don't think the boy so mean as to hesitate on that
account.'

'He may as well know, however, that we promise to send all her trumpery
after her, even to the Amal's presents. As for the house, we won't
trouble her to lend it us longer than we can help. We intend shortly to
move into more extensive premises, and open business on a grander scale,
as the shopkeepers say,--eh, prince?'

'Her money?--That money? God forgive her!' answered Philammon. 'Do you
fancy me base enough to touch it? But I am resolved. Tell me what to do,
and I will do it.'

'You know the lane which runs down to the canal, under the left wall of
the house?'

'Yes.'

'And a door in the corner tower, close to the landing-place?' 'I do.'

'Be there, with a dozen stout monks, to-morrow, an hour after sundown,
and take what we give you. After that, the concern is yours, not ours.'

'Monks?' said Philammon. 'I am at open feud with the whole order.'

'Make friends with them, then,' shortly suggested Smid.

Philammon writhed inwardly. 'It makes no difference to you, I presume,
whom I bring?'

'No more than it does whether or not you pitch her into the canal, and
put a hurdle over her when you have got her,' answered Smid; 'which is
what a Goth would do, if he were in your place.'

'Do not vex the poor lad, friend. If he thinks he can mend her instead
of punishing her, in Freya's name, let him try. You will be there, then?
And mind, I like you. I liked you when you faced that great river-hog.
I like you better now than ever; for you have spoken to-day like a
Sagaman, and dared like a hero. Therefore mind; if you do not bring a
good guard to-morrow night, your life will not be safe. The whole city
is out in the streets; and Odin alone knows what w