—Shakespeare.
"The colonel!" exclaimed the three men in a breath, as the door opened and a tall, handsome and distinguished-looking gentleman, wrapped in a black military cloak and having his black beaver pulled low over his brow, strode into the room.
All arose upon their feet to greet him as though he had been a prince.
With a haughty wave of the hand, he bade them resume their seats, and beckoning their leader, said:
"Donald, I would have a word with you!"
"At your command, colonel!" said the outlaw, rising and taking a candle and leading the way into the adjoining room, the same in which fourteen years before old Granny Grewell and the child had been detained.
Setting the candle upon the mantelpiece, Black Donald stood waiting for the visitor to open the conversation, a thing that the latter seemed in no hurry to do, for he began walking up and down the room in stern silence.
"You seem disturbed, colonel," at length said the outlaw.
"I am disturbed—more than disturbed! I am suffering!"