Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/170

144 sorry I had consented. Then the Count and Luke held a consultation as to what should be done with me, while I stood waiting with the knuckles of a man-at-arms making dents in my neck. I was never less comfortable in my life. The only pleasant thing in my whole experience at the Count's camp was the remembrance of my dinner with the good-natured soldier—I hope I may not fling a rock in his direction, instead of in Luke's! After a short talk the Count came back and stood before me, and I waited to see whether they intended to hang me by my neck or by my heels. But the Count said that he thought it best to let me earn my gold pieces, and so he was going to let me see all there was to see, and then return me to the castle, that I might let the garrison know that there was no hope for them. Evidently I had played my part so well that he thought I would do the garrison more harm than good.

"You saw my triumphant re-entry," said the Friar, laughing. "And now it remains for me to show Luke that he and the Count are bigger fools to let me go than I was to be caught."