"Four hours," he said. "If the horse was good, and Gabriel did not lose his way in the dark, we may expect him every moment. If he has not succeeded, you may still be without anxiety; I will still take you from this house."
The bell below rang, and the house door opened--Gabriel entered. There was a gleam of pleasure in his countenance.
"Promptly, at ten, the carriage will stop before the inn," he said, cautiously; "I have ridden hastily in advance."
Ilse jumped up. Again the terrors of the day and anxiety for the future passed through her mind.
"Sit still," admonished Mr. Hummel again; "violent moving about is suspicious. I will meanwhile hold council once more with Gabriel."
This council lasted a long time. At last Mr. Hummel came back, and said, very seriously:
"Now, Mrs. Werner, prepare yourself; we have a quarter of an hour's walk. Yield yourself quietly to our guidance; all has been carefully considered."
Mr. Hummel rang. Gabriel, who had returned to the spy on the ground floor, entered as usual, and took several keys and a screw-driver out of his pocket, and said, cautiously:
"The first week we were here I closed the small back staircase and secured the door with a large screw; the people do not know that I have the keys."
He went to one of the back rooms and opened the entrance to a secret staircase. Mr. Hummel glided after him.