92 IN MAREMMA.

to be treacherous, you can easily rid yourself of her—a fawn’s neck is soon slit.’

‘ He was vile himself,’ she said hastily, with sternnesslin her eyes. ‘ What think you he did? He stole the gold cups and platters— theirs. I was glad when I learned he was taken.’

‘Can you be so cruel? ’ said the refugee with a little look of wonder and fear.

‘I do not see that I am cruel; he was a traitor and a thief. If I let you stay, will the place be sacred to you? ’

‘ You and it, that I swear.’

‘Stay then,’ said Musa, with calm unconcern.

It did not occur to her that he was a man, and young ; her innocence was too grand a thing for that.

‘ You did not do the crime they took you for?’ she asked him with a long, grave look into his face.

‘ No; that also I swear. I was guiltless as you.’

She felt that his answer was the truth.

‘ What was the crime? ’

‘ I was accused of the murder of my mistress.’

‘ Ah ! ’—she drew a deep breath ; it did