“None,” cried Frank excitedly.
“I am glad of it, though anything was excusable for you at such a time. On reaching the prison she was supported in by the servants and gaolers. She stayed there nearly an hour, and, as the people there supposed, she was carried back to the carriage in a chair, half fainting.”
“Ah!” ejaculated Frank, who was trembling in every limb.
“The servants say that the carriage was being driven back quickly by the shortest cuts, so as to avoid the main thoroughfares, when in one of the quiet streets by Soho three horsemen stopped the way, and seized the reins as the coachman drew up to avoid an accident. A carriage which had been following came up, and half a dozen men sprang from it—one from the box, two from behind, and the rest from inside. The footmen were hustled away, and threatened with drawn swords by four of the attacking party, while the others opened the door, as one of them says, to abduct Lady Gowan, but the other declares that it was a man in disguise who sprang out and then into the other carriage, which was driven off, all taking place quickly and before any alarm could be given. The startled men then came on to state what had occurred; but almost at the same time the tidings came from the prison that Lady Gowan remained behind, and that it was Sir Robert whom they had helped away.”
“Oh!” groaned Frank, giddy with excitement. “Come faster, or I must run. She is dying to know. I must go and tell her he is safe.”
“You cannot, you foolish boy,” cried the captain, half angrily. “Do you suppose they would admit you to the prison now?”
“Prison!” cried Frank wildly. “Did I not tell you that she was close here—at our own house.”
“What! When did you see her?”
“Not a quarter of an hour ago.”
Captain Murray uttered a gasp.