"What a villainous-looking creature he is!" said Inza, in a flutter of alarm.
"How could you tell at that distance when it is so dark?" half laughed Frank.
"Oh, it was his general appearance—his black clothes, and that strange cloak and cape."
To himself Frank confessed that the man had seemed rather more awe-inspiring when seen through the gathering darkness than he had appeared near at hand in the stronger light of sunset.
The stranger had moved along the street till swallowed by the darkness beneath the great trees, but something told the boy he was lingering at a distance—watching and waiting.
Despite his strong nerves, the boy felt a cold chill creep along his back. What desperate deed might not the mysterious man in black be contemplating?
The girl was no less impressed.
"Oh, Frank!" she exclaimed, looking up into his handsome face; "I know you are in danger—I am sure of it! That dreadful creature means to do you some injury!"
Seeing how distressed she was, Frank began to feel sorry that he had told her so much.
"You are nervous," he said. "I shouldn't have told you all this stuff about the ring and that man."