Faint, weak, pale, and unresisting as she was, Ellen Harmer was so terrified at all she had heard, that it took but little to convince her that what all Blood had said was true.
With the soft tongue of a deceiver, then, he consoled her; while, with the strength of a young ox, he tore off his fair prize with the greatest ease.
“This is a good night’s work,” thought he, as he hurried forward; “his majesty will amply reward me for all this trouble, and, who knows, may raise me to the peerage, for many a man has had that reward for doing less than I have.”
Thus he mused as he went on his way.
Ere long he approached the spot where Jonas had agreed to place his carriage and horses.
His own saddle horse was there, truly, but not the carriage.
“How is this?” growled Blood. “Surely that fool, Jonas, could not have misunderstood me? I told him near this spot.”
He was now approaching the church, and resolved to wait near an old archway close beside the village green, with its May-pole, until such time as Jonas should appear with the carriage.
He remained close under the shadow of the old archway, but all was still.
The village green, with its May-pole, was deserted.