“God help me!” she whispered, softly; then, still leaning upon Warrington’s arm, she advanced to the center of the room. The clergyman made a few trivial remarks, then he opened the prayer-book in his hand, and an awful silence settled down.
Violet observed then, for the first time, that Doctor Langley and old Mrs. Carter were present, seated in a corner of the room, evidently acting as witnesses. She felt like the captive tied to the stake, around whom the fagots are being heaped, while one stands ready with lighted torch to apply to the pile, and certain and awful death is inevitable.
Slowly the clergyman began to read the marriage service. But the first few words only were uttered, when there came a loud and violent ring at the gate-bell.
Doctor Langley and Mrs. Carter started to their feet, pale and terrified. There was something ominous in that sound which brought terror to their craven hearts. Langley darted to the door of the room and laid his hand upon the knob. The door was locked upon the outside! The windows were barred with iron, like the others in the building. With a hoarse, inarticulate cry he fell back, and his face wore the look of a baffled fiend, an abandoned wretch just betrayed to well-merited punishment. Mrs. Carter crept to his side, trembling visibly.
“The game is up!” he muttered in a low aside to the old woman. But softly as the words were spoken, they reached the ears of the clergyman. He closed the prayer-book.
“There is evidently something wrong here,” he observed, sternly. “I will defer the ceremony until all is explained.”
Violet darted wildly forward and caught his hand in both her own.
“Oh, sir, help me——” she was beginning; but at that moment the door was thrown open and Dunbar the detective marched into the room, followed by half a dozen police officers in uniform. He went straight up to Warrington and laid his hand upon the villain’s arm.
“Gilbert Warrington,” he thundered, “I arrest you in the name of the law! Boys,” turning to the officers, “secure yonder villain known as Doctor Langley. I accuse him of being the owner and proprietor of an illegal institution known as Langley’s Private Asylum for the Insane, where perfectly sane people are imprisoned until death releases them, or until the wicked purposes of cruel and unscrupulous enemies are served. I rather think, Mr. Warrington, that my charges against you are too numerous to be specified. They run through the whole scale of crimes, from attempted murder down to abduction and embezzlement. Here, men,” addressing the police officers once more, “just march this precious pair, the old woman, too—quite a notorious trio—to the parish prison, where they shall be dealt with as they deserve, or Dunbar is out of his reckoning. Miss Arleigh”—he drew Violet’s hand through his arm—“you will come with me. I will protect you with my life. Did I not tell you to trust in me, and that I would save you? I am here also to find your mother. I have traced her to this city. Doctor Danton is also here; and, with the help of God, Rosamond Arleigh shall be found!”
