our liberty if I would yield to his desires; but I just couldn't. I could have saved our lives, but not at that price."
"No, you haven't failed me. Death is better than such infamy."
Then the princess took Bathilda back into their room, and they were sitting there wondering what Stolbach would do next when he suddenly burst into the room. They shuddered at the sight of him, but he did not molest them. Instead he put two men's suits on a chair.
"Young lady," he said to Bathilda, "I couldn't help seeing the extreme disgust which you showed at the thought of having anything to do with me. If I had been better endowed by nature, perhaps you would have accepted my proposal. In any event I do not intend to require you to do any such thing for me, but I am going to do a lot for you. By means of these clothes which you can put on, I will help you to escape. Since you did not wish to recompense me in one way, I must have some reward in another. I know that you have some money and you will have to give me some. On that subject you are going to find me reasonable because I am asking of each of you only two hundred gold florins. For that amount I will accompany you until you reach safety."
"Oh, Stolbach, you are a good man," cried Adelaide. "In this way you will have no crime on your conscience. The sum which you ask is perhaps a little high in our present circumstances, but in one way or another we will give you what you require."
Adelaide noticed that Bathilda was looking at her with her eyes filled with doubt and suspicion. She could not trust this strange appearing man.
"We have to," she said in a whisper, "we have no other choice. It is our only chance."
And the sum was promptly given to Stolbach. Since they might need some of their money, a large part of it was given in the form of jewels.
"Come, dress quickly," said their guardian, "moments are precious. I must work for my own safety too. Just imagine what Schinders would do to me if he caught us!"
The two women were soon dressed, and Stolbach took them
65
