"
"How came you to be absent from her ladyship's party?"
"Because, urbane pirate captain, I am an unwilling prisoner in this
stronghold, being an obstreperous person, who refused to obey my
superiors; those set in authority over me. Consequently am I immured in
this dismal dungeon of the water-rats, and thus, youthful pirate, I
welcome even so red-handed an outlaw as yourself."
"Then are we in like case, my lady of midnight beauty, for I, too, am a
prisoner in Pfalzgrafenstein, and, when you came, was cogitating some
plan of escape. Therefore, rebellious maiden, the sword of this
red-handed freebooter is most completely at your service," and the
speaker once more doffed his bonnet with a gallant sweep that caused the
plume to kiss the flagstones at his feet, and he bowed low to the brave
girl who had shown no fear of him.
XVI
MY LADY SCATTERS THE FREEBOOTERS AND CAPTURES THEIR CHIEF
Greusel appeared on one of the balconies, and called down to his leader.
"There are," he said, "a number of women in the western rooms of the
Castle.
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