登陆注册
4709100000176

第176章

There came a great burst of thunder. It was the last of the storm.

It bellowed and shuddered, went, and came rolling up again. It died away at last in the great distance, with a low continuous rumbling as if it would never cease. The silence that followed was like the Egyptian darkness; it might be felt.

Out of the tense heart of the silence came a faint sound. It came again and again, at regular intervals.

"That is my uncle's step!" said Arctura in a scared whisper through the dark.

It was plainly a slow step--far off, but approaching.

"I wonder if he has a light!" she added hurriedly. "He often goes in the dark without one. If he has you must get behind the altar."

"Do not speak a word," said Donal; let him think you are asleep. If he has no light, I will stand so that he cannot come near the bed without coming against me. Do not be afraid; he shall not touch you."

The steps were coming nearer all the time. A door opened and shut.

Then they were loud--they were coming along the gallery! They ceased. He was standing up there in the thick darkness!

"Arctura," said a deep, awful voice.

It was that of the earl. Arctura made no answer.

"Dead of fright!" muttered the voice. "All goes well. I will go down and see. She might have proved as obstinate as the boys' mother!"

Again the steps began. They were coming down the stair. The door at the foot of it opened. The earl entered a step or two, then stopped.

Through the darkness Donal seemed to know exactly where he stood. He knew also that he was fumbling for a match, and watched intently for the first spark. There came a sputter and a gleam, and the match failed. Ere he could try another, Donal made a swift blow at his arm. It knocked the box from his hand.

"Ha!" he cried, and there was terror in the cry, "she strikes at me through the dark!"

Donal kept very still. Arctura kept as still as he. The earl turned and went away.

"I will bring a candle!" he muttered.

"Now, my lady, we must make haste," said Donal. "Do you mind being left while I fetch my tools?"

"No--but make haste," she answered.

"I shall be back before him," he returned.

"Be careful you do not meet him," said Arctura.

There was no difficulty now, either in going or returning. He sped, and in a space that even to Arctura seemed short, was back. There was no time to use the file: he attacked the staple, and drew it from the bed-post, then wound the chain about her arm, and tied it there.

He had already made up his mind what to do with her. He had been inclined to carry her away from the house: Doory would take care of her! But he saw that to leave the enemy in possession would be to yield him an advantage. Awkward things might result from it! the tongues of inventive ignorance and stupidity would wag wildly! He would take her to her room, and there watch her as he would the pearl of price!

"There! you are free, my lady," he said. "Now come."

He took her hands, and she raised herself wearily.

"The air is so stifling!" she said.

"We shall soon have better!" answered Donal.

"Shall we go on the roof?" she said, like one talking in her sleep.

"I will take you to your own room," replied Donal. "--But I will not leave you," he added quickly, seeing a look of anxiety cloud her face, "--so long as your uncle is in the house."

"Take me where you will," rejoined Arctura.

There was no way but through the crypt: she followed him without hesitation. They crept through the little closet under the stair, and were in the hall of the castle.

As they went softly up the stair, Donal had an idea.

"He is not back yet!" he said: "we will take the key from the oak door; he will think he has mislaid it, and will not find out that you are gone. I wonder what he will do!"

Cautiously listening to be sure the earl was not there, he ran to the oak door, locked it, and brought away the key. Then they went to the room Arctura had last occupied.

The door was ajar; there was a light in the room. They went softly, and peeped in. The earl was there, turning over the contents of her writing-desk.

"He will find nothing," she whispered with a smile.

Donal led her away.

"We will go to your old room," he said. "The whole recess is built up with stone and lime: he cannot come near you that way!"

She made no objection. Donal secured the doors, lighted a fire, and went to look for food. They had agreed upon a certain knock, without which she was to open to none.

同类推荐
  • 佛说方等泥洹经

    佛说方等泥洹经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 佛说遍照般若波罗蜜经

    佛说遍照般若波罗蜜经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • The Black Dwarf

    The Black Dwarf

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 道德经

    道德经

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 六十种曲霞笺记

    六十种曲霞笺记

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
热门推荐
  • 修养含义

    修养含义

    歌德说:“名言集和格言集是社会上最大的财宝——只要懂得在适当的场合把前者带进会话里,在适当的时间唤起对后者的记忆。”我们人类社会那些出类拔萃的名家巨人,在推动人类社会向前不断发展的同时,也给我们留下了宝贵的物质财富。他们通过自身的体验和观察研究,还给我们留下了许多有益的经验和感悟,他们将其付诸语言表达出来,被称之为名言或格言,其中蕴含并闪耀着智慧的光芒,成为世人宝贵的精神财富。
  • 切肤之爱(一)

    切肤之爱(一)

    东京都内流传着许多都市传说。像是什么凌晨三点出现在六本木袭击行人的猫人啦,每年二月十三日零点在秋叶原现身的,手执红色灯笼以眼杀人的和服少女啦,撑红伞的雪夜杀人狂魔和专门偷窃小孩儿哭声的黑色巨鸟也是常常被人提及。最近在都内一则都市传说流传甚广,主角被人们称为“捧匣的燕尾服绅士”。这位绅士主要出没于浅草一带,尤其是深夜的浅草线。三流八卦杂志《HOMES》还为这事作了期特别节目,采访了不少自称亲眼见过“捧匣的燕尾服绅士”的目击者。
  • 超级足球经理

    超级足球经理

    重生后我竟然成了华国俱乐部的经理....一本足球养成类爽文。培养小妖,暴打豪门俱乐部……
  • 妖妻难当

    妖妻难当

    一只爱作糗诗的狐狸精,竟爱上了英俊潇洒、一身正气、才华横溢,555,名花有主的神仙。更悲哀的是,他要用锁妖剑射她。不过,小金狐决不气馁,为了爱,努力奋斗.....<br/>&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp;
  • 名医贤女

    名医贤女

    当一代医女穿越成人人唾弃的将军独女后,到底是安于现状还是努力去改变?司云想方设法让自己变得低调,哪怕被传说成不学无术痴呆懒惰也不去理会。随着时间的推移,瘟疫死人?南方贫瘠?司云忍无可忍跳出来,治瘟疫,修水渠,利农耕……当小小呆女成长为一方领主,世人哂然,皇上亏大发了。
  • 娇俏小农女:相公勾勾缠

    娇俏小农女:相公勾勾缠

    穿越小农女,家贫如洗,安暖撸起袖子,发家致富。获得俏夫一枚,恩爱无疑猜。虽有波折,但夫妻齐心,其利断金。总能把日子过的风生水起。
  • 血剑酆都

    血剑酆都

    九重天之上,神魔俯瞰世间事。三千里飘血,几使人间变酆都。虽一介穷儒,戴罪之身。然宝剑在手,道理藏心,天下虽大无我不能安身之所,江湖虽远何处非我立命之地?我白小七,此生但行当行之事,杀该死之人!
  • 拳道中枢·大成拳论

    拳道中枢·大成拳论

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • ALMAYER'  S FOLLY

    ALMAYER' S FOLLY

    本书为公版书,为不受著作权法限制的作家、艺术家及其它人士发布的作品,供广大读者阅读交流。汇聚授权电子版权。
  • 青少年必知的100种地理知识

    青少年必知的100种地理知识

    地球是人类共有的家园,是一个充满生机的世界。作为地球家园的一员,我们应该知道"家事",才能把"家"营造得更加温馨、和谐、幸福、美好。