The actress uttered a slight cry and stepped toward the window, when she was drawn back by an irresistible force.
“Pardon me,” said a hard voice, from which all passing compunction had vanished. “Be kind enough to come with me.”
“I will follow you, but––” Her face expressed the rest.
“This way then!”
He released her and together they mounted the stairway. For a long time a gentle footfall had not passed those various landings; not since the ladies in hoops, with powdered hair, had ascended or descended, with attendant cavaliers, bewigged, beruffled, bedizened. The land baron conducted his companion to a distant room up stairs, the door of which he threw open.
“Go in there,” he said curtly.
She hesitated on the threshold. So remote was it from the main part of the great manor, the apartment had all the requirements of a prison.
“You needn’t fear,” he continued, reading her thoughts. “I’m not going to be separated from you––yet! But we can see what is going on here.”
Again she mutely obeyed him, and entered the room. It was a commodious apartment, where an excellent view was offered of the surrounding country on three 169 sides. But looking from the window to discern his assailants, Mauville could see nothing save the fields and openings, fringed by the dark groves. The out-houses and barns were but dimly outlined, while scattered trees here and there dotted the open spaces with small, dark patches. A single streak of red yet lingered in the west. A tiny spot, moving through the obscurity, proved to be a cow, peacefully wandering over the dewy grass. The whirring sound of a diving night-hawk gave evidence that a thing of life was inspecting the scene from a higher point of vantage.
From that narrow, dark crimson ribbon, left behind by the flaunting sun, a faint reflection entered the great open windows of the chamber and revealed Mauville gazing without, pistol in hand; Constance leaning against the curtains and the driver of the coach standing in the center of the room, quaking inwardly and shaking outwardly. This last-named had found an old blunderbuss somewhere, useful once undoubtedly, but of questionable service now.