The crimson court was indeed crimson now; for the velvet
carpeting was dyed a more terrible red, and was slippery with a
rain of blood! A score of dead and dying lay groaning on the
ground; and the rest, beaten and bloody, gave up their swords and
surrendered.
"You should have done this at first!" said the count, coolly
wiping his blood-stained weapon, end replacing it in its sheath;
"and, by so doing, saved some time and more bloodshed. Where are
all the fair ladies, Kingsley, I saw here when we entered first?"
"They fled like a flock of frightened deer," said Hubert, taking
it upon himself to answer, "through yonder archway when the fight
commenced. I will go in search of them if you like."
"I am rather at a loss what to do with them," said the count,
half-laughing. "It would be a pity to bring such a cavalcade of
pretty women into the city to die of the plague. Can you suggest
nothing, Sir Norman?"
"Nothing, but to leave then here to take care of themselves, or
let them go free."
"They would be a great addition to the court at Whitehall,"
suggested Hubert, in his prettiest tone, "and a thousand times
handsomer than half the damsels therein.
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