Was this his clemency--this sparing of my life that he might submit it to an eternal shame?
For a moment my mother was forgotten.

I thought only of myself, and I grew resolved to hang.
"'When you spoke of service,' said I 'I thought of service of an honourable sort.' "'The service that I offer you is honourable,' he said, with cold amusement.

'Indeed, remembering that your life was forfeit, you should account yourself most fortunate.

You shall be well housed and well fed, you shall wear silk and lie in fine linen, on condition that you are merry.

If you prove dull our castellan shall have you whipped--for such a one as you could not be dull save out of sullenness, of which we shall seek to cure you if you show signs of it.' "'I will not do it,' I cried, 'it were too base.' "'My friend,' he answered me, 'the choice is yours.