23. XXIII.
When Amri had left the apartment, Edacer resumed
his seat beside Urraca; and though he saw that her
feelings were yet excited and her spirit greatly aroused,
he did not scruple to ask an explanation of the scene
which he had partially witnessed.
“What is there in these jewels, Urraca? Is there
some spell of danger that made thee fear them? Why
didst thou refuse them?”
“There was a spell, there was a danger in them,
Edacer. Thou hast said it. But thou hast no fears
such as mine. The spell will not harm thee. Do thou
take them. There—they lie beside thee!”
“What! wilt thou not wear them?” he asked, in
no little astonishment.
“Never! as I live. Take them,—they are thine.”
“What is't with thee and Amri?”
“I'll tell thee some time hence; but answer me,
what is this business of thine upon which he goes? Is
it some coil of state, or some fool affray,—or goes
he but to get moneys for thy pleasures? May I not
hear it?”
“I cannot tell thee yet,—but thou wilt hear it if he
prospers in it. Let it suffice, then, that 'tis something
as thou sayest,—thou almost hittest it.”
“How?—what?—speak on.”
“'Tis business of the state he goes upon.”
“Psha! thou dost mock,—thou mockest either him
or me. He is a Hebrew! what has he to do with
the state, or the state with him, unless to rob him?”
“I mock thee not—'tis strange, but true. On the
state's business goes he.”
“In what form?”
“He aims to trap a secret enemy, and leads two followers
of mine for that object.”
“An enemy—ah!—who—what enemy?”
“A page—he has a secret we would gain—a glorious
secret, Urraca, which promises us a goodly sum
of gold if we can win it. Let him but take the page,
and force him to disgorge, and we are made.”
“Well, it is strange—a page!”
Urraca seemed to muse, and a sudden change passed
visibly over her features as she uttered the exclamation.
They seemed full of strange conjecture and intelligence:
“A page, didst thou say, Edacer?”
The Goth answered her with some little surprise—
“Ay, to be sure,—a page—a boy—a brat—a little,
long-legged, bashful thing—an urchin, sixteen years or
so—not more.”
“Intrusted with a secret of the state! Why, this is
madness, if 't be true,—rank folly!”
“Why?—how, Urraca?”
“There's more in this, Edacer, than thou tellest me.”
“No—as I live—no more—save in the secret, which
now I cannot tell thee.”
“But this page,—it cannot be a page that has this
secret.”
“He said a page,—I know not.”
“And lacks he strength to take a page? Wherefore
thy followers?”
“The boy may struggle—”
“I've been a page myself!” she exclaimed, interrupting
him suddenly, though still without seeming to
address him. “I'll be once more. Hear me, Edacer.”
She beckoned him with her finger.
“It will nothing affect thy secret if I go and see this
page. I'll go as one of thy followers,—wearing thy
badge—”
“But—”
“Nay,—thou canst nothing plead in opposition.
Thou canst trust me not less than they. I'll go as one
of them.”
“But the disguise—”
“Is ready—all. I should not have my freedom, but
that I can wear all shapes that take my choice. I have
a garb will suit me.”
“And thou wilt—”
“Follow in Amri's steps as one of thine. Hear me:
I do suspect him that he pursues another with the love
which he has promised me.”
“And what carest thou, Urraca, for his love? What
is his love to thee?”
“Nothing—if love be only valued by the worth of
him who gives it. Every thing—if she who claims it
is in want of it—if she has none beside.”
“But this is not thy state, Urraca.”
“It is!—it is!” she exclaimed, mournfully, with a
degree of feeling, which, before this, her own sense had
never permitted her to expose to one so callous and
coarse as Edacer.
“But, whether it is or not,” she continued, “is nothing
now. Go—teach thy followers to receive me as
one of them. Get me a spear. Be sudden, and say
nothing.”
Edacer did as she required; and it was not long before
Urraca, habited like a follower of the Gothic lord,
proceeded, with another, after the direction and the lead
of Amri, who was also disguised almost beyond detection.
