"Speak."
"Not here: what I have to tell you is too lengthy and serious for us to be able to discuss it properly at this place."
"Will you come to my house? There you need not be afraid of being disturbed."
"If you permit it."
"What, my good creature, permit it? Why, the house, all it contains, and the owner in the bargain, all are yours, and you know it."
Margaret smiled sadly.
"Thanks!" she said, offering him her hand, which Black pressed gladly.
"Come," he said, "as we have nothing more to do here, let us be off."
They started in the direction of the house; but the return was silent; each, absorbed in thought, rode on without thinking of addressing a word to the other. They were but a short distance from the house, when they suddenly saw some twenty horsemen debouch from a wood on the right, dressed, as far as could be distinguished, as wood rangers.
"What is this?" Black said, with astonishment, as he pulled his horse up.