At that moment a cry rang out. It was a cry from the gateway. It was the cry of Chitta, who came bounding into the narrow room and hurled herself at her mistress’s feet.
Before any one of the trio could speak, there was the clatter of a galloping horse on the road, the thunder of hoofs over the drawbridge above that frightful chasm.
“Go!” shrieked Vitoria. “Will you never go? Do you not understand what this means? Do you not know who is coming here?”
Chitta set up a loud wail.
“I don’t care who’s coming here,” said Cartaret. “If there’s any danger——”
Vitoria leaped over the prostrate servant and began pushing Cartaret away.
“I hate you!” she cried. “Do you hear that? I hate you! Now will you go?”
He looked at her, and his face hardened.
“I’ll go,” he said.