"
A fresh flood of questions was upon Helen's lips, but Philippa
brushed her away.
"Please let me speak," she said. "You have brought us these letters
from Richard, for which we offer you our heartfelt thanks, but you
did not risk your liberty, perhaps your life, to come here simply
as his ambassador. There is something beyond this in your visit to
this country. You may be a Swede, but is it not true that at the
present moment you are in the service of an enemy?"
Lessingham bowed acquiescence.
"You are entirely right," he murmured.
"Am I also right in concluding that you have some service to ask
of us?"
"Your directness, dear lady, moves me to admiration," Lessingham
assured her. "I am here to ask a trifling favour in return for
those which I have rendered and those which I may yet render to your
brother."
"And that favour?"
Their visitor looked down at his torn attire.
"A suit of your brother's clothes," he replied, "and a room in which
to change. The disposal of these rags I may leave, I presume, to
your ingenuity."
"Anything else?"
"It is my wish," he continued, "to remain in this neighbourhood for
a short time--perhaps a fortnight and perhaps a month. I should
value your introduction to the hotel here, and the extension of
such hospitality as may seem fitting to you, under the circumstances.
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