With a last powerful effort the prisoner succeeded in freeing himself.
“She is saved for this time, but my dagger will yet make her acquaintance!” said he, with a scornful laugh, and like a serpent he glided away among the bushes.
“She is saved!” cried Carlo, sinking back toward Count Paulo, and pointing with a happy smile to Natalie, who, awaking from her momentary stupefaction, stretched forth her arms toward the count.
“Paulo,” she whispered low, “let us hasten from here! I dread these people! I fear them! Let us go! But take him with us, that they may not kill him, my saviour, my friend Carlo!”
THE DEPARTURE
The morning dawned. Count Paulo rose from the arm-chair in which he had passed the night. He had occupied the whole fearfully anxious night in writing; he now laid the pen aside and stood up.
His face had an expression of firmness and decision; he had formed a firm resolution, had come to an irrevocable determination.
With a firm step advancing to the door opening into the adjoining chamber, he called to his friend Cecil.
The latter immediately made his appearance, and, entering the count’s chamber, laconically said: “All is ready.”