“Your father is about to ride,” I said.
“Yes,” answered Miriam. “He and Louis are going to the Hanging Rock. At least they intended to last night; I set out too early this morning to see anyone before I left.”
“Remember what you promised me,” I said. “My adventure is to be secret. Now, if you will let me, I shall go ahead and meet your father before he leaves the house.”[house.”]
A few minutes later when I stood by the door of the patroon’s private room, I heard the voices of him and his curious henchman.
“That Barker is a good fellow,” Van Volkenberg was saying. “I have a notion to promote him to some trust.”
“He may be worth it,” answered Louis. “But no one has seen him since last night. Perhaps he has run away and will not return.”
“One thing is sure,” replied his master. “St. Vincent will not return.”
Instantly I drew aside the curtain and stood in the doorway.
“Patroon Van Volkenberg.”
He started violently at the sound of my voice, and turned towards me. Then his hands flew up before his eyes and he uttered a scream.