There was no answer.
“He is not. He is a worming, designing villain; there is no truth nor honor in him. To serve his own ends, he’d sell his friends to their enemies—he’d sell his cause to——”
“Oh, I know, I know,” cried Peggy, and there was pain in her voice. “I know it all better than you can tell it. I know it and hate him for it; and yet I cannot see him harmed.”
“Herbert is concealed in the house, as I suspected,” thought the young man at the door. “Major Hyde has in some way learned of it, and being aware of his treachery, is trying to locate his hiding-place.”
The voices within the room now sank even lower than before; George listened intently, but could not make out what was being said. Some minutes passed in this way and the voice of Peggy was raised in gladness.
“You promise me that?”
“I do.”
“Then Herbert is safe,” she whispered thankfully. “I know, I know,” as though preventing his interrupting her; “he does not deserve it, but I am happier than I can tell.”
“He is safe from me,” spoke Major Hyde, slowly, “but I am not the only one. Don’t forget that——”
He said no more, but George Prentiss was as sure that his hand lifted and his finger pointed to the tapestried chamber as he would have been had he seen him do it.