"What do you want?" asked a voice in unmistakable tones of fear.
"I must have shelter for this young lady for a little while," exclaimed Ainsley, impatiently; adding: "I will pay you handsomely if you will allow her to remain here an hour or two, until I can go for a carriage for her."
The window was closed quickly down again, and Royal heard some one say quite distinctly:
"I tell you it is only a ruse. It is an officer of the law."
Again Royal knocked impatiently.
"It is commencing to rain," he called. "For Heaven's sake, open the door quickly!"
Despite the sobs and protestations of the voice inside, a man opened the door and stepped out, confronting them. One hand held a lighted lamp and the other rested upon his hip pocket.
To Royal Ainsley's intense astonishment, he found that he was at the summer cottage of Newport's haughty mayor.
"I beg your pardon," stammered the man, in dire confusion.
"It is rather late to awaken any one; but you have heard the words, 'any port in a storm'? The truth is, I want to find shelter for this young lady until I can go for a conveyance to take her to a minister who is awaiting us to perform the marriage ceremony."