I shuddered. But then, next instant, derived hope from the reflection that if he could not show me Sir Hubert Blair it would be because he lied in saying Sir Hubert was a prisoner in his dungeon, moreover I should then be free from my promise. This hope was dashed, however, by Sir Claudius saying-- 'Very well. You shall see Sir Hubert--not to speak to, mind--but you shall see him. I will go now, and return for you in half an hour. Will that satisfy you?' 'Yes.' He left the room, closing the door roughly after him, as was his wont. His sisters, who had been listening all the time, and must have heard every word he said, for his voice was loud and harsh, came forward, asking,-- 'What? Is he going to show you the secret dungeon?' I made no answer. Perhaps I could not at that moment, for thoughts of agony and fear were surging through my mind. My dread was terrible; it obscured all things, including my faith in my Heavenly Father's care. 'He must have you entirely in his power, or he must trust you completely,' said the women. I made no rejoinder, and they, looking at me askance, withdrew again to a little distance, and began a low-toned conversation. I was left to myself. And my thoughts were bitter. CHAPTER XVII The Prisoner in the Dungeon Sir Claudius, returning in about half an hour, bade me gruffly follow him, and then led the way down many steps and through gloomy passages until we reached a huge dark subterranean hall, the extreme chilliness of which was deathly and vaultlike in its nature. 'Pleasant, is it not?' sneered my guide. Thereupon he whistled, and a pale-faced lad, dressed in garments made of skins, came quickly out of the darkness and ran towards him. 'Prisoner ready, Saul?' interrogated Sir Claudius. 'Yes, master,' answered the lad, looking from him to me with startled eyes. He added something which I did not catch. Sir Claudius hesitated a moment before saying to the lad, with a frown, 'Stay here with this lady and take care of her; you understand?' 'Yes, master. I must not let her escape.' The man nodded. 'I shall soon return,' he said, and vanished into the darkness. A few moments of intense silence followed. Full of apprehension and dread about my own safety and that of Sir Hubert Blair, I was not thinking at all about the boy, when he startled me by saying in low tones-- 'I think you must be the lady who tried to save my grandmother's life?' 'Your grandmother's life?' I asked wonderingly. 'When? Where?' 'I have heard about you since you came here, from the servants, and I think you must be the lady,' continued the lad slowly. 'It was many weeks ago, not very far from Horsham. Wicked men made out that my grandmother was a witch and drowned her. My dear old grandmother!' he sobbed. 'But you tried to save her life.' 'Was she your grandmother?' asked I, thinking of the so-called witch, who had implored me frantically to save her.