To Oswald's astonishment, two young women stood before him.
They evidently belonged to the upper class. Both were richly dressed.
They wore heavy gold chains round their necks, and bracelets of the
same metal; set, as Oswald noticed by the reflection of the moon, with
jewels. They had also brooches, and their girdles were held in with
massive gold clasps.
By this time Roger had come up, and stood staring with astonishment.
"Take these, good fellows," the girl said in English, as she began to
unfasten her necklace. "Take these, and let us go. They will make you
rich."
"I am an esquire of Sir Henry Percy," Oswald said, "and I rob not
women. By your appearance, I should judge you to be daughters of
Glendower."
"It would be useless to deny it," one of the girls said, proudly.
"Why do you come spying here?" Oswald said. "Surely, among your
father's warriors, others better suited for such work might have been
found."
"We were not spying," the girl replied. "We have lain hidden all day,
and were but making our escape."
"How can that be, madam? We had a guard all round the castle, and know
that none can have escaped."
"Being an esquire, you are a gentleman, sir, and will not disclose what
I am about to tell you; though, indeed, now that our father's house is
in your hands, it boots not much whether the secret is known.
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