"Shall we prosper in our undertaking?"
"My time is nigh spent. I beseech you that I may depart, for I am in great torment."
"Thou shalt not, until thou answer."
"Beware!"
But this admonition was from another source, and in a different direction. The obscurity and smoke from the torches made it impossible to judge with any certainty whence the interruption proceeded.
Gervase started and turned round. It might be fancy, but he was confident the features of the Red Woman were present to his apprehension. Horrors were accumulating. Even the united brotherhood seemed to tremble as though in the presence of some being of whom they stood in awe. They awaited her approach in silence.
"Fool! did I not warn thee to do my bidding only? And thou art hankering again, pampering thy cruel lust for gold. How darest thou question the maiden for this intent? Hence, and thank thy stars thou art not even now sent howling to thy doom!"
This terrible and mysterious woman came forward in great anger, and the Rosicrucian brotherhood were thereby in great alarm. "The maid is mine—begone!" said she, pointing the way.
Like slaves under their master's frown, they crouched before this fearful personification of their unhallowed and forbidden practices, and departed.
"Gervase Buckley," she cried, "thou art betrothed to the heiress of yon wide possessions."