"Through her something might be achieved though."
"Is she particular?"
"Not at all! If she would only conceal me in her room for one night——"
"Once there, rogue, thou wouldst forget all about poor Vipont, thy mission, and the coil of stout rope wherewith thou proposest to line thy trunk breeches."
Here the noise of a window being raised behind them made Leslie turn his head.
"What is that? Mother of God! what is that?" he exclaimed, in alarm, with his sword half drawn, on seeing a black visage, with shining eyeballs, a row of sharp white teeth, and two black paws, appear between the lifted sash and the window-sill.
Forrester started, and Lintstock snatched up his axe.
The head grinned and bowed, and waved its black paws with a grotesque air of respect and deprecation.
"By my soul! 'tis Lady Ashkirk's ill-omened page!" said the captain, bursting into a fit of laughter.
"How—the evil spirit, anent which we have heard so much of late?"