“Among the rocks,” he replied meaningly.
Then she knew for certain that the eyes that had glared at her from between the rocks were those of no wild animal, but of a being far more evil-minded and quite as pitiless.
CHAPTER XVII
THE SECRET ROOM
That night Von Tressen and Galabin agreed to make a determined attempt to solve the mystery they had found at Rozsnyo.
“There seems no object in delay,” Galabin had argued. “If the place is watched by Zarka’s people, the patrol will continue as long as there is any reason for it. No; our friend the Count is certainly a highly suspicious character, and the sooner one tries to find out something more about him the better. For I cannot pretend that as yet there is anything very tangible to report to Gersdorff.”
So after dark the two friends set out once more, taking this time an indirect route so as to approach Rozsnyo from the depth of the wood, not by the customary path from the valley. Their object was, naturally, to elude the vigilance of the man D’Alquen whom they rather expected to find there, and whom they imagined to be in some way connected with Zarka and his proceedings.
They made their way cautiously through the darkness of the wood till they calculated they were near the castle. With increased wariness they now went forward, careful to give no sign of their approach to any one who might be on the look-out. A half-smothered exclamation from Galabin made his companion start and look round on the alert, Galabin pointed straight in front. Von Tressen could see nothing; he crept to his friend’s side, and so, coming within the same line of vision, saw plainly what the trees before had intercepted. A light.
“If it should be from that mysterious window?” Galabin whispered.
They went forward now quickly and silently, anxious to get a nearer view of the light before it should disappear. Quickly they came to the edge of the wood. Yes; they were in luck. There, in the midst of what was usually a dead, blank wall, was the open window, and from it through the darkness streamed evidence of a lighted room within.
“Quick! Up into the tree!” Galabin urged his companion in a whisper. Von Tressen was already preparing to climb, and was soon hidden in the branches. “At any rate the window has stayed for him this time,” Galabin muttered to himself, as he waited with eyes fixed on the light which showed no sign of disappearing.