Chapter 19
Delaying Is Not ForgettingTHERE was an old mansion surrounded by a marshy ditch with
a drawbridge which was but seldom let down:—not all guests are good
people. Under the roof were loopholes to shoot through, and to pour
down boiling water or even molten lead on the enemy, should he
approach. Inside the house the rooms were very high and had
ceilings of beams, and that was very useful considering the great
deal of smoke which rose up from the chimney fire where the large,
damp logs of wood smouldered. On the walls hung pictures of knights
in armour and proud ladies in gorgeous dresses; the most stately of
all walked about alive. She was called Meta Mogen; she was the
mistress of the house, to her belonged the castle.
Towards the evening robbers came; they killed thre
