She went to the window and said, "Who is there?"
"Is the Baroness Cloten here? I have important news for her."
The old woman turned round and whispered, "Make haste and get away; I will try to keep him here. What do you want of her?"
Oswald and Emily did not hear the reply. They slipped stealthily, holding each other's hand, through the hall to the back door, which opened upon the sea. A flight of steps led down to the beach. Below was the sleigh. Once in the sleigh they were safe.
"Stay behind me," said Oswald when they came to the door.
The door was closed by an iron clasp. Oswald opened it cautiously. Everything was quiet. The wintry sky looked down with its bright stars.
"There is nobody here," whispered Oswald. "Come!"
They had no sooner stepped out than the door was closed violently and with a bang, evidently by somebody who had been standing behind it, who now, as if to cut off the retreat of the fugitives, was leaning against it with his broad shoulders.
In such moments the mind acts promptly, and Oswald recognized instantly by the aid of the starlight and the sheen of the snow that the broad-shouldered form before him was that of Baron Barnewitz.
"We are betrayed," he whispered; "but they shall pay for it. Quick Emily, step into the sleigh; I'll follow."