— 20 — HUGH OF ROOSELAAREDirk took off his riding-coat and listened with a smile to the quick step of Theirry overhead; he was again in the long low chamber looking out on the witch’s garden, and nothing was changed save that the roses bloomed no longer on the bare thorny bushes.
“So you have brought him back,” said Nathalie, caressing the youth’s soft sleeve; “pulled his saint out of her shrine and given her over to the demons.”
Dirk turned his head; a beautiful look was in his eyes.
“Yea, I have brought him back,” he said musingly.
“You have done a foolish thing,” grumbled the witch, “he will ruin you yet; beware, for even now you hold him against his will; I marked his face as he went into his old chamber.”
Dirk seated himself with a sigh. “In this matter I am not to be moved, and
