Page:Tudor Jenks--The defense of the castle.djvu/264

236 Lady Mortimer and her son will think twice before they refuse and condemn her to death."

"It is a wise plan—if we had captured her; but when they shall demand her, or at least a sight of her—what is to do?"

"We will exhibit our captive to them," Luke answered. "What can be easier than to bring some country lass, with hair clipped short, and show her to them bound at a distance, just beyond the distance at which they might see clearly? They will suspect no fraud, and after they have surrendered the castle, why, we will surrender the maid."

"Then they will discover the fraud."

"What fraud?" asked Luke, with a grin. "Are we bound to know the Lady Amabel? If by mistake we have captured some simple country lass in her brother's clothing, and believe it to be the Lady Amabel—are we to be blamed?"

The Count laughed heartily. He had little faith in the success of the trick, but he found it amusing, and bade Luke try it, saying that if it failed no harm would be done, and they could renew the assault by attacking the two towers, which taken, would leave only the keep to be reduced. As the plan was entirely to Luke's taste, he at once departed to put it into execution.

While talking this over, Luke and the Count had