“Is there any chance for the Pretender?—any danger that he may succeed?” the answer still was “Perhaps so.”
Mr Ruthven, who was prowling about in search of news, heard these last words, and they produced a great effect upon him.
Chapter Sixteen.
Timely Evasion.
Mr Ruthven was walking up and down his garden that afternoon in a disturbed state of mind, when his wife came to him and asked him what he thought Lady Carse could be in want of. She was searching among his books and boxes as if she wanted something. He hastened in.
“Yes,” Lady Carse replied, in answer to his question; “I want that pistol that used to be kept on the top of your bed. You need not look so frightened. I am not going to shoot you, nor anybody you ought to care for.”
“I should like to understand, however,” observed the pastor. “It is unusual for ladies to employ fire-arms, I believe, except in apprehension of the midnight thief: and I am not aware of any danger from burglars in these islands.”
“Why no,” replied the lady. “We have no great temptation to offer to burglars; and nothing to lose worth the waste of powder and bullet.”