Both the matter and the manner of the offered terms still further
pleased the prefect, and he said: "Be it so, Princess." Then
summoning his lieutenant, he said: "Conduct the envoy of Coel of
Britain with all courtesy to the gates of the the city," and with
a herald's escort the girl returned to her father.

Again the old king rebelled at the terms his daughter had made.

"I know the ways of Rome," he said. "I know what their mercy
meaneth. Thou shalt never go as hostage for my faith, O daughter,
nor carry out this hazardous plan."

"I have pledged my word and thine, O King," said Helena. "Surely
a Briton's pledge should be as binding as a Roman's."

So she carried her point, and, in five days' time, she, with
twenty of the boys and girls of Camalodunum, went as hostages to
the Roman camp in London.

"Here be thy hostages, fair Princess," said Constantius the
prefect as he received the children; "and this is well. But
remember the rest of thy compact. Deliver to me now, according to
thy promise, the chief rebel against Rome."

"She is here, O Prefect,"said the intrepid girl. I am that
rebel--Helena of Britain!"

The smile upon the prefect's face changed to sudden sternness.

"Trifle not with Roman justice, girl," he said, "I demand the