Joanna, who had read his thought, smiled slightly.
"Nay, boy, thou needst not fear treachery from Joanna, and the gipsy queen will give thee all protection in her power.

Have I not told thee that upon me, when I received that title, was laid the charge of seeing the stolen treasure restored to the house of Trevlyn?
To thy courage and resolve and perseverance and skill belongs it that this charge is now fulfilled.

Thou needst not fear that any ill will or lack of caution on Joanna's part will cause evil to light upon thy head.

But there are others with whom thou mayest have to reckon.

There is Miriam, to whom Long Robin was as the apple of the eye." "Yet he was not her husband (he is no aged man), and he can scarce have been her son." "No matter.