donal grant-第105章

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him；　its　wrist　clasped　by　the　rusty　ring；　and　tightening　the　chain
that　held　it　to　the　post。

〃How　pale　and　tired　you　look！〃　she　said。

〃I　am　a　little　tired；〃　he　answered。　〃I　came　almost　without　stopping。
My　mother　sent　me。　She　said　I　must　come；　but　she　did　not　tell　me
why。〃

〃It　was　God　sent　you；〃　said　Arctura。

Then　she　briefly　told　him　what　she　knew　of　her　own　story。

〃How　did　he　get　the　ring　on　to　your　wrist？〃　said　Donal。

He　looked　closer　and　saw　that　her　hand　was　swollen；　and　the　skin
abraded。

〃He　forced　it　on！〃　he　said。　〃How　it　must　hurt　you！〃

〃It　does　hurt　now　you　speak　of　it；〃　she　replied。　〃I　did　not　notice
it　before。Do　you　suppose　he　left　me　here　to　die？〃

〃Who　can　tell！〃　returned　Donal。　〃I　suspect　he　is　more　of　a　madman
than　we　knew。　I　wonder　if　a　soul　can　be　mad。Yes；　the　devil　must　be
mad　with　self…worship！　Hell　is　the　great　madhouse　of　creation！〃

〃Take　me　away；〃　she　said。

〃I　must　first　get　you　free；〃　answered　Donal。

She　heard　him　rise。

〃You　are　not　going　to　leave　me？〃　she　said。

〃Only　to　get　a　tool　or　two。〃

〃And　after　that？〃　she　said。

〃Not　until　you　wish　me；〃　he　answered。　〃I　am　your　servant　nowhis　no
more。〃




CHAPTER　LXXVII。

THE　ANGEL　OF　THE　DEVIL。

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　stepfar　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　loudthey　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？〃

〃Nobut　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。

While　she　was　yet　changing　the　garments　in　which　she　had　lain　on　the
terrible　bed；　she　heard　the　earl　go　by；　and　the　door　of　his　room
close。　Apparently　he　had　concluded　to　let　her　pass　the　night　without
another　visit：　he　had　himself　had　a　bad　fright；　and　had　probably　not
got　over　it。　A　little　longer　and　she　heard　Donal's　gentle　signal　at
the　door　of　the　sitting…room。　He　had　brought　some　biscuits　and　a
little　wine　in　the　bottom　of　a　decanter　from　the　housekeeper's　room：
there　was　literally　nothing　in　the　larder；　he　said。

They　sat　down　and　ate　the　biscuits。　Donal　told　his　adventures。　They
agreed　that　she　must　write　to　the　factor　to　come　home　at　once；　and
bring　his　sister。　Then　Donal　set　to　with　his　file　upon　the　ring：　her
hand　was　much　too　swollen　to　admit　of　its　being　removed　as　it　had
been　put　on。　It　was　not　easy　to　cut　it；　partly　from　the　constant
danger　of　hurting　her　swollen　hand；　partly　that　the　rust　filled　and
blunted　the　file。

〃There！〃　he　said　at　last；　〃you　are　free！　And　now；　my　lady；　you　must
take　some　rest。　The　door　to　the　passage　is　secure。　Lock　this　one
inside；　and　I　will　draw　the　sofa　across　it　outside：　if　he　come
wandering　in　the　night；　and　get　into　this　room；　he　will　not　reach
your　door。〃

Weary　as　he　was；　Donal　could　not　sleep　much。　In　the　middle　of　the
night　he　heard　the　earl's　door　open；　and　watched　and　followed　him。
He　went　to　the　oak　door；　and　tried　in　vain　to　open　it。

〃She　has　taken　it！〃　he　muttered；　in　what　seemed　to　Donal　an
awe…struck　voice。

All　night　long　he　roamed　the　house　a　spirit　grievously　tormented。　In
the　gray　of　the　morning；　having　perhaps　persuaded　himself　that　the
whole　affair　was　a　trick　of　his　imagination；　he　went　back　to　his
room。

In　the　morning　Donal　left　the　house；　having　first　called　to　Arctura
and　warned　her　to　lock　the　door　of　the　sitting…room　the　moment　he
was　gone。　He　ran　all　the　way　down　to　the　inn；　paid　his　bill；　bought
some　things　in　the　town　for　their　breakfast；　and　taking　the　mare；
rode　up　to　the　castle；　and　rang　the　bell。　No　notice　was　taken。　He
went　and　put　up　his　animal；　then　let　himself　into　the　house　by
Baliol's　tower；　and　began　to　sing。　So　singing　he　went　up　the　great
stair；　and　into　and　along　the　corridor　where　the　earl　lay。

The　singing　roused　him；　and　brought　him　to　his　door　in　a　rage。　But
the　moment　he　saw　Donal　his　countenance　fell。

〃What　the　devil　are　you　doing　here？〃　he　said。

〃They　told　me　in　the　town　you　were　in　England；　my　lord！〃

〃I　wrote