Abduction -- Fiction; Americans -- Europe -- Fiction; Love stories
“Don't talk to me now, Philip. You must give me time. In an hour,
when I have gotten over this dreadful headache, I will listen to
you. But now, for heaven's sake, leave me to myself,” she said,
rapidly, resorting to deception.
“I'm sorry I have disturbed you. In an hour, then, or at any time
you may feel like listening. It concerns Prince Ugo.”
“Is he--what has happened to him?” she demanded, turning to him with
alarm in her eyes.
“It is not what has happened to him, but to one who was his
intimate. The woman who warned me to beware of his treachery has
been murdered in Brussels. Shall I come to you here in an hour?”
“Yes,” she said, slowly, the consciousness of a new dread showing
itself in her voice. It was not until he reentered the house that
she became fully possessed of a desire to learn more of this
startling news. Her mind went back to the strange young woman who
came to her with the story of the prince's duplicity, and her blood
grew cold with the thought that brutal death had come to her so soon
after that visit. She recalled the woman's voice, her unquestioned
refinement, her dignity of bearing and the positiveness with which
she declared that Ugo would kill her if he knew the nature of her
visit to his promised wife. And now she was dead--murdered! By whom?
That question burst upon her with the force of a heavy blow. Who
killed her?
A pounding on the heavy gate brought her sharply to the project of
the moment. She walked as calmly as her nerves would admit to the
gate and called in French:
“Who is there?”
“Father Paul,” came a subdued voice from the outside. “Am I wrong in
believing that I was called here by some one in the castle? Kindly
admit me. I am fatigued and athirst.”
“I cannot open the gate, good Father, You must aid me to escape from
this place,” she cried, eagerly, her breast thumping like a hammer.
There was no interruption, and she could have shrieked with triumph
when, five minutes later, the priest bade her be of good cheer and
to have confidence in him. He would come for her on the next night
but one, and she should be freed. From her window in the castle she
saw the holy man descend the steep with celerity not born of
fatigue. When he reached the road below he turned and waved his hand
to her and then made his way swiftly into the forest.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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