“Hah!” she cried, snatching it from the woman’s hands.
“And the nurse says, my lady, may she come in now?”
“No, no; I cannot see her. Go!” cried Lady Gowan imperiously; and she tore open the letter, as the woman left the room. “Hah! See, see, Frank! It is an order signed by the King himself. With the Princess’s dear love and condolence. Heaven bless her! But oh! Look!”
Frank took the order and read it quickly.
It was for Lady Gowan, alone and unattended, to be admitted to the prisoner’s cell for one hour only on the following day.
“I must write and appeal again, my boy. You must be with me.”
“No, mother,” said Frank sadly. “I was with my father last night. This visit should be for you alone.”
She looked at him half resentfully, and then drew him to her breast.
Before he left her he once more drew from her the promise that she would fulfil the instructions he gave her, and call in Queen Anne Street, go up, see Drew Forbes, and take the message from his father.
“I don’t understand it,” said the lad to himself, as he left his mother’s apartments; “but it must mean something respecting my father’s prospects of escape—some instructions perhaps. Oh, everything must give way now to saving his life.”