I therefore determined to suffer all the ghastly spectres of the mind which came to me during the night rather than seek to exchange my prison.
When I had been at Launceston jail about three weeks I received information that a man was about to visit me. Wondering as to whom it might be, I awaited his coming eagerly. At first I thought it might be Mr. Hendy, the attorney, but I quickly discovered my mistake. It was not the lawyer's figure that I saw coming across the castle yard towards me. For the moment, indeed, I could not make out who my visitor was. He looked like a fairly prosperous yeoman, and was, as far as I could see, a stranger to me. But this was only for a minute. I quickly penetrated the evident disguise, and felt sure that the man was Otho Killigrew.
CHAPTER XX. I ESCAPE FROM THE WITCH'S TOWER.
As may be imagined, the sight of Otho Killigrew set me a-wondering much, for I knew he would not come to see me save for important reasons. Doubtless he fancied I was in possession of some knowledge which he hoped I might impart; but I hoped that by being careful I might lead him to betray more to me than I should communicate to him.
I therefore received him civilly, hard as it was to do so, but I saw that he lacked his usual self-possession. He spoke more quickly than was his wont, and his mouth twitched as though he were nervous and much wrought upon.
"Trevanion," he said, when we were presently left alone, "we have been fighting a battle which I have won."
"I thought so until I saw you coming towards me just now," was my reply as I watched him closely.
He flushed angrily, for he saw that I had divined his motives; but he stuck to his guns.