Vos Engo may have had the promise, but what could it profit him if Marlanx had the girl?
"I've got about as much chance as a snowball," he reflected, courage and decision growing stronger each moment.

"I might just as well die one way as another.

If I could only catch 'em napping for a minute, I might turn the trick.

God, that would be--" he was lost in ecstatic contemplation of the glory that such an event would bring.
Footsteps in the outer room recalled him to the bitter reality of their position.

He awoke her and whispered words of encouragement into her bewildered ears.