Then his anger vented itself upon the guard.
“Have you no sense, blockhead?” he cried. “How dare you blurt out your tidings in such a careless fashion? Do you not see the lady? Did I not tell you that it was the Lady Barbara Gordon’s name in that permit? You’ve likely killed her with your words.”
For, indeed, it seemed a dead weight that he held in his arms. The guard thrust forward a bench, and Lindley tried to place the lady down upon it, but she clung to him almost convulsively. When he attempted to take the cloak from over her mouth, he heard her whispered words.
“Ah, get me away from here, away from here—anywhere. I can walk, I——Indeed I can walk!”
Then she stood erect and turned away from the guarded door, but Lindley still hesitated there.
“At ten o’clock you said the prisoner would be sentenced?” he asked.
“Ay, at ten o’clock, they said.”
Then Lindley heard the Lady Barbara’s voice.
“You said Lord Grimsby would come to-night from Padusey?” she asked, faintly.
“Yes, from Padusey, to-night,” the guard answered once again.