Sir Robert followed, and a door formed like a dormer window in the slope of the roof was unbolted ready for him to step out on to the narrow leads.
“Now, Frank lad, give me the rope,” said Sir Robert in a low voice. “Then follow me along by the parapet. We need not crawl, for it will hide us from the soldiers if we lean inward and keep one hand on the sloping slates.”
“Yes, I understand,” said Frank; “you mean to go along the roofs right to the end.”
“Yes: right.”
“And fasten the rope round a chimney stack?”
“That’s quite right too; and now listen. I shall not be able to talk to you out there. As soon as I am down, don’t stop to untie the rope; it will be too tight from my weight. Cut it, and draw it up again quickly, then get back as you came, shut the door after you, and take down the steps before you join your mother. But you must do something with the rope.”
“Hide it?” said Frank.
“It would be found, and I don’t want you or your mother to have the credit of helping me to escape.”
“Burn it in the kitchen fire?”
“There will not be time. They will search the house. I cannot propose a way, only do something with it. Now good-bye.”