Here I was obliged to strike a light. It showed me to my dismay that my escape was cut off, the door was locked and no key to be seen.
I threw down the match and pulled out my revolver. There, with my back to the door, I could keep the narrow passage perhaps against odds, or at least make a good fight for my life. Any moment now my pursuers might come upon me. They seemed to be searching about the hall and the rooms adjacent to it. My discovery was a mere question of moments. I braced myself for the encounter and stood in readiness. I should be an easy target there if the ruffians had fire-arms, but even in that case I calculated I ought to be able to account for two or three of them before they could hit me.
At that critical moment, as a faint indication of light told of my enemies’ approach, a noise close by attracted my attention. Some one was outside the door behind me. Feet could be plainly heard on the steps; one of the men was evidently coming in. Everything now hung on moments. If the Count and his men inside the house should come upon me before the door opened it would mean that I should be attacked from behind as well, and my desperate chance of escape would be absolutely gone. The suspense of those few seconds brings a shudder even now in the writing. To my great relief the key grated in the lock, it turned, the door opened, and, just as a light flashed into the passage and a man’s shout proclaimed he had discovered me, I sprang from my crouching attitude behind the door upon the astonished incomer, dealt him a smashing blow in the face, knocking him backwards down the steps into the moat, plunged in myself and began to swim my hardest, keeping along in the dark shadow of the walls.
I did not swim far thus, knowing they would pursue me in the boat, but after going a short distance, struck across to land. Luckily the night was dark with a drizzling rain, and it was not until I reached the bank that a cry told me I was seen. I fully expected a shot, if not a volley, but none was fired. Next instant I was in the wood and comparatively safe. I ran through to the boundary wall, climbed it, and then stayed to listen for sounds of pursuit. None were to be heard. After a while I ventured to make my way by a circuitous path to the inn, which I reached without becoming aware of any signs of my late host or his gang. With some difficulty I succeeded in rousing the landlord, made an excuse for my late return, threw off my wet clothes, and tumbled into an honest bed after a very pretty night’s adventure.
CHAPTER XXX
A DISCOVERY
Next morning I sent a boy to the Monastery with a note.
“Dear Count,—
“I regret to have to inform you that I was forced to leave your roof abruptly at an early hour this morning in consequence of the unwarrantable intrusion into my bedroom of a person who came, I fancy, with no very good intent. May I suggest that your present domestic arrangements are liable to cause your known hospitality to be misjudged. I return herewith the key of my room, having been simple enough to suppose that locking my door would secure privacy. Please make my apologies to my hostess for my unceremonious departure.”