"Ever deceiving! you would again delude me. You cannot repair it. One way alone remains, and that——"
"I will pursue," responded Sybil, sadly, but firmly.
"Never!" cried Luke; "you shall not. Ha!" exclaimed he, as he found his arms suddenly pinioned behind him. "What new treachery is this? By whose orders am I thus fettered?"
"By mine," said Alan Rookwood, stepping forward.
"By yours?" echoed Luke. "And wherefore? Release me."
"Be patient," replied Alan. "You will hear all anon. In the meantime you must be content to remain my prisoner. Quit not your hold," added he, addressing the gipsies, who kept charge of Luke.
"Their lives shall answer for their obedience," said Barbara.
Upon a further signal from Alan, Eleanor was torn from her mother's arms, and a bandage passed so suddenly over Mrs. Mowbray's face, that, before she could raise a cry of alarm, all possibility of utterance was effectually prevented. The priest alone was left at liberty.
Barbara snatched the hand of Eleanor. She dragged her to Sybil.
"You are Lady Rookwood," whispered she; "but she has your domains. I give her to you."