"The Duke agrees," he said; "and now, please, follow me."
They passed through the corridor up the stairs. Then, opening the door of Rob's cell, Strange bowed her in, and, closing it, turned the key. Rob was lying face downwards upon the bed; he never lifted his head as she entered, and so she paused and listened at the keyhole until the footsteps had died away.
Then, "Rob," she called, and fell upon her knees by the bedside.
He raised his face and looked at her with sullen anger.
"What do you want with me?" he asked.
But for answer she placed her finger on her lips, and drew a file and pistol from her pocket.
"Hide them," she whispered. When he had done so, in a dream, and turned his head, a coil of rope was lying on the ground, and his aunt was rebuttoning her coat.
"Tak' it, Rob," she said. "Wake up, lad."
Suddenly hope sprang to his eyes. With a leap he was off the bed, and the rope was below the hay upon which he lay.
"Oh, aunt," he said, "I did not understand."