“Louder, and in your natural tone, or—” threatened Gerard.
“Who should it be, fellow? Send those men away, I say,” cried the Governor with an effort.
“It is the Governor. You are to go away,” they heard Pierre say to the others; and their footsteps were heard as they went, growing fainter until the distance swallowed them.
“Tell him to go too, but to leave the keys in the door,” prompted Gerard next.
“Are you there, Pierre?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“I told you all to go away. Leave the keys.”
“You have saved your life,” said Gerard, releasing his hold; and the Governor fell prone on the prisoner’s bed, as Gerard gave a deep-drawn sigh of relief. The first part of the struggle was over and had ended in victory.
But there was yet much to do, and what course to take was a hard problem to solve.
Could Gabrielle have ventured to trust herself with him on the rope, the way would have been easy enough; but her nerve had so failed her that he feared to ask her again.