“And what then?”
“Why, then it will be perfectly useless for you to keep the fast horse tied every night in the thicket, or lose your own rest by watching near the prison. And it would not only be useless, but indiscreet, as it might attract attention, and endanger the success of my plot.”
“Then what is it you wish of me?” inquired Malcolm, rather with the design of acquiring some little knowledge of her plan than with any hope of its success.
“Before I tell you what I wish, I want to know if you have already done what you engaged to do?”
“You mean to ask—”
“If you have hired the vessel to take her away, when she is safe outside the prison walls?”
“I have not yet.”
“You promised to do that! You dare not break your pledged word!” exclaimed Annella, between alarm and defiance.
“I have no purpose to break faith with you, dear Annella. It can do no manner of harm to hire the vessel you speak of; and it is my intention to look out for one to-day. What next?”
“Why, after you have hired the vessel to hover near the coast, and arranged to have the little boat always tied and floating at the beach, then I advise you to keep as quiet and get as much rest as you can between now and Tuesday night; for I assure you you will need all your health, and strength, and nerve, and presence of mind for that occasion. Then, on Tuesday night, about eleven o’clock, have your fast horse ready in the thicket, and you yourself wait near the gate, and, as I said before, when you find Eudora Leaton in your arms, never stop to ask a question, or to look behind you, but fly as Lot fled from burning Sodom!”