They listened intently, the stillness preceding the threatened storm making it easy to hear a very slight sound.
“There!” ejaculated Von Tressen, in scarcely a whisper.
Now from the other side of the moat came distinctly a slight cracking noise of footsteps on the twigs and dead leaves that carpeted the wood. They strained their eyes in the direction of the sound, but could make out nothing. The person, whoever it was, seemed to be stopping and then moving on, for the footsteps would cease for a time and then be heard again. Presently they could just see a black figure moving against the dark background of trees at the edge of the wood. Then it seemed to come boldly forward, and stood out in the open space between the trees and the moat. A man evidently, a tall man; that was all they could discern. He remained there for a while motionless as the two, who watched him with intense curiosity. Soon he moved and began to walk slowly along the edge of the moat, as though making the circuit of the house. The two men looked after him until he disappeared in the darkness, then Galabin said in a low voice—
“I think we had better abandon our attempt for to-night. I do not know who our friend may be; one of Zarka’s men on the watch, most likely. Anyhow, it will not do for us to be caught. The sooner we get across the wood the better.”
“He evidently did not suspect we were here,” Von Tressen said.
“No; and should we be seen it will be less suspicions if we are found over there than here under the wall. Now, as quietly as we can.”
They crept for a short distance round by the wall in the opposite direction to that which the man had taken. Then, stooping, they ran across the moat and gained the shelter of the wood.
“I should like to see what that fellow’s game is,” Galabin said, as they halted under cover of the trees. “After all, we are doing no harm here, and have a right to an evening stroll even in the precincts of our friend Count Zarka’s stronghold.”
Accordingly they began to move slowly and alertly after the man. They had not gone far when they stopped simultaneously, for his figure had suddenly appeared out of the darkness a few yards in front of them. Luckily he was just outside the edge of the wood, they just within, consequently he was much more easily visible to them than they to him. The two friends stood still, pressed close against a tree. Evidently the man had no idea of their presence, for he passed slowly on without any sign of suspicion, and they could hear his footsteps until he had gone some distance. Then Galabin touched his companion.
“Did you make him out?”