As he spoke he .advanced and laid his hand on the window ledge
and prepared to vault through the aperture. But ere he could
carry out his design he caught a flash of something bright withiu,
and a dipperful of cold water, thrown with unerring aim, struck
him full in the face. He drew back quickly, sputtering and half
blinded, wiping the water from his eyes.
“ Well, art not coming in?” taunted Anne, from her point of
vantage.
“In truth that I am,” retorted he, and made another quick
spring for the window. But again she was watching him, and
just as he gained the ledge the heavy sash fell, striking him fairly
on the head. With a muttered curse he dropped to the ground,
holding his hand to the injured member and glancing ruefully,
and perhaps not a little angrily, at the cause of his misfortune.
Meantime, Anne had raised the window and stood looking down
upon him pityingly, but with just the semblance of a smile hover
ing about her pretty mouth.
‘ ‘ ’Twas a very shabby trick, that, ’ ’ said Rudolf, a trifle harshly.
“ Nay, ‘ all’s fair in war,’ ” said Anne, aptly quoting his own
words, and smiling so charmingly that he forgot his pain and
smiled, too.
“Well, haven’t I suffered enough? Aren’t you going to let
me in now ?’ ’ pleaded Rudolf. v
“ Indeed, then, is all thy strategy exhausted? Remember, sir,
' faint heart never won fair lady.’ ”
“True enough,,, replied he, “and I doubt much if ever there
were fairer to be won. But come, draw the bolt, for lam near
famished, and the hour grows late.”
“ Nay,” said Anne, with a determined stamp of her little foot,
“an if thou canst not take my citadel then thou art a poor
strategist and must go a-hungered.”
“Which I shall not, by my sword,” cried the young officer,
and again sprang for the window. Either the attack was so
sudden as to be unexpected, or maybe Mistress Anne had taken
pity on the handsome young Briton, for he managed to crawl
through without opposition. As he stepped to the floor Anne
confronted him.
“ Now that thou hast entered, sir, pray what will it profit thee?”
she asked.
“You must get me something to eat,” said he. “Come, be
The Free Lance.
[October,