"Yes, there is," replied Morrison. "It is a hazardous and most dangerous one. But yet it can be tried, and I am willing to run my share of the risk, which will even be greater than yours."
"What is it, Morrison?" demanded Charles, "I fear no risks myself; in fact, in my situation, all risks vanish."
"That is true," replied Morrison, "and you are no worse, at all events, than you were before. The alternative is, to attempt to escape."
"But shall I not, by the very effort," demanded Charles, "whether successful or unsuccessful, establish the truth of the charge against me, and deprive myself of the power of ever proving my innocence?"
"No," replied Morrison, "no, far from it. On the contrary, you give yourself the only opportunity, for you gain time. If you stay, as far as I can see, you stay for certain death; if you can accomplish your flight, you give us an opportunity, in the first place, of laying out plans for detecting the real murderer. In the second place, you give time for another person, whom we will not name, to escape; but who is now so strictly watched, on other accounts, that he dare not ride out by night, for fear of creating suspicion. As soon as he is safe from pursuit, you can explain the whole, and I will take care that everything shall be done to make your explanation clear, sure and convincing. Suspicion indeed will hang upon you till the real murderer be found; but, in the meantime, your own life will be saved; the danger will be removed from others, a great part of the suspicion against yourself will be done away, and you will be placed beyond all risk, if we can but effect the escape."
Charles Tyrrell took one or two turns up and down the room ere he replied; but he answered at length,
"It is well worth the trial, Morrison. I like not the thoughts of compromising you; but if I can escape without so doing, it is worth running any risk to accomplish it, I am fully convinced."
"Fear not for me," replied Morrison, "I will take my chance willingly, and of course I shall use the greatest precautions to prevent implicating myself in any degree further than I can help, inasmuch as my staying in security here is of the greatest importance to you and others. Sit down, then, at once, and write two notes, one to your mother, begging her to act in any way that I shall direct her, if you are not afraid of placing such great trust in me; the other must be addressed to Miss Effingham, expressing an extreme desire to see her."
"I have every confidence in you, Everard," replied Charles Tyrrell; "but indeed I cannot ask Lucy to come here. I would not for the world that she should come to such a place."
"She shall never see your note," replied Morrison; "it is for other eyes; not hers, that I want it. You are of course closely watched. One of these who watch you we can deceive, and I think we can bribe the others, not to aid, indeed, but to connive, and that is all that we require."