opped, 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. If he has I will
go across to the prison and try and get a pass for you. I shall come to
market in the morning."

So saying, with a wave of her hand she tripped on towards the house,
which was now near at hand, leaving Malcolm to arrange his plans for
next day. His first care was to purchase a suit of clothes such as would
be worn by a boy of the class to which he appeared to belong. Then he
went to one of the small inns patronized by the peasants who brought
their goods into market, and without difficulty bargained with one of
them for the purchase of a cart with two oxen, which were to remain at
the inn until he called for them. Then he bought a suit of peasant's
clothes, after which, well satisfied with the day's work, he returned to
his lodging. In the morning he again met the servant.

"It was well I asked," she said, "for the sentry had orders to prevent
any, save nobles and officers, from passing in. However, I went to the
prison, and saw one of the governor's deputies, and told him that the
count was fretting because his clock had stopped, and, as while I said
so I slipped five ducats the countess had given me for the purpose into
his hand, he made no difficulty about giving me the pass. Here it is.
Now," she said, "I have earned my twenty ducats."

"You have earned them well," Malcolm replied, handing them to her.

"Now mind," she said, "you must not count on me farther. I don't know
what you are going to do, and I don't want to know. I have run quite
a risk enough as it is, and mean, directly the count is lodged in the
prison, to make my way home, having collected a dowry which will enable
me to buy a farm and marry my bachelor, who has been waiting for me for
the last three years. His father is an old curmudgeon, who has declared
that his son shall never marry except a maid who can bring as much money
as he will give him. I told Fritz that if he would trust to my wits and
wait I would in five years produce the dowry. Now I have treble the sum,
and shall go off and make Fritz happy."

"He is a lucky fellow," Malcolm said laughing. "It is not every one who
gets beauty, wi