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revenge and of winning back his holding with no more effort than plunging his sword into the back of a man sleeping or engaged in the act of love. Walter's soft protest to Marie's first suggestion sounded to Heribert like a formality, and he had expected Walter would enthusiastically accept her invitation to unarm him. His insistence on returning before dark to Clyro did not promise so well. |
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Heribert considered bursting in at once, for his three best men were with him, but the rest of his troop probably would not arrive for another quarter hour. He could afford to wait until Walter actually said farewell. Perhaps Marie would succeed in getting him to change his mind. She was certainly trying. Heribert heard her cry out against Walter's cruelty and beg him to be kind. |
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"But I do not believe it is kind for me to linger," Walter said. |
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Sir Heribert relaxed while he listened to Walter trying to explain that for her own good Marie should think of him only as a friend who cared sufficiently for her to protect her, to think of him as she thought of Richarda person bound to consider her well-being and that of her child, but not . . . |
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At that point Marie interrupted furiously, to deny that Richard considered her well-being and to profess undying love for Walter. "Come to me," she cried. "I must have you, I must. Even if you never come again, let me have this one time." |
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Again the hairs lifted on Walter's nape. The outburst against Richard had been sincere; he had heard the ring of true feeling in Marie's voice. Following it so immediately, her profession of love and her plea for a coupling were patently false. |
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"What is it you want from me?" he asked harshly. |
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Sir Heribert sprang to attention. He knew that tone of voice. Marie had betrayed herself in some way, and Walter had become suspicious. If she tried sweet words again, he would leave without further delay. Heribert imagined Walter turning toward the door. Should he allow him out into the main room? The larger space would favor him and his men, since they could more easily surround Walter. Still, although the bailiff had been told to stay away, he was somewhere about, and there were other men working in the yard of the manor house. If they heard sounds of conflict, they might run |
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