'Whom have you there?' inquired I, making a strong effort to appear calm.
'Perhaps,' said he, musingly, 'you might have some objection to seeing her, at least for a time.'
'Who is it?' repeated I.
'Why,' said he, 'I see no use in hiding it—the blind Dutchwoman. I have been with her the whole morning. She is very anxious to get out of that closet; but you know she is odd, she is scarcely to be trusted.'
A heavy gust of wind shook the door at this moment with a sound as if something more substantial were pushing against it.
'Ha, ha, ha!—do you hear her?' said he, with an obstreperous burst of laughter.
The wind died away in a long howl, and Lord Glenfallen, suddenly checking his merriment, shrugged his shoulders, and muttered:
'Poor devil, she has been hardly used.'
'We had better not tease her at present with questions,' said I, in as unconcerned a tone as I could assume, although I felt every moment as if I should faint.
'Humph! may be so,' said he. 'Well, come back in an hour or two, or when you please, and you will find us here.'