"Exactly. But no time is to be lost. Will you go now?" inquired the viscount, rising.
"Certainly," said the captain, and he went on deck to order the boat manned to go on shore.
In a few minutes it was reported ready, and the captain, the mate, and two sailors whom they supposed they could rely upon, entered it. In a very few minutes they reached the shore and left the boat.
"Leave the two sailors here with the boat; the mate will be sufficient for our purpose," said the viscount.
The captain gave the necessary directions to the boatmen. Lord Vincent, Captain Costo, and Paolo went up the narrow pass leading to the top of the cliff and entered the castle courtyard.
"Your boots are heavy; they might awaken the household, even at this hour of its deepest sleep; you must put them off here," whispered the viscount.
It was no sooner said than done. The men cast off both shoes and stockings and stood in their bare feet.
"We must keep them dry to put on again," said the mate, as he stuffed the stockings into the boots.
Then, silent as death, they stole into the castle and glided along the dark, deserted halls and up its staircases.
The viscount paused before the door of Mrs. Dugald's boudoir, and taking the maid's pass-key from its hiding place, softly unlocked and entered the room, beckoning his companions in crime to follow.