But Hugh could sleep no more than if he had been out with Falconer. He was
as restless as a wild beast in a cage. Something would not let him be at
peace. So he rose, dressed, and went out. As soon as he turned the corner,
he could see Mrs. Elton’s house. It was visible both by intermittent
moonlight above, and by flickering gaslight below, for the wind blew
rather strong. There was snow in the air, he knew. The light they had
observed last night, was burning now. A moment served to make these
observations; and then Hugh’s eyes were arrested by the sight of something
else—a man walking up and down the pavement in front of Mrs. Elton’s
house. He instantly stepped into the shadow of a porch to watch him. The
figure might be the count’s; it might not; he could not be sure. Every now
and then the man looked up to the windows. At length he stopped right
under the lighted one, and looked up. Hugh was on the point of gliding
out, that he might get as near him as possible before rushing on him,
when, at the moment, to his great mortification, a policeman emerged from
some mysterious corner, and the figure instantly vanished in another. Hugh
did not pursue him; because it would be to set all on a single chance, and
that a poor one; for if the count, should it be he, succeeded in escaping,
he would not return to a spot which he knew to be watched. Hugh,
therefore, withdrew once more under a porch, and waited. But, whatever
might be the cause, the man made his appearance no more. Hugh contrived to
keep watch for two hours, in spite of suspicious policemen. He slept late
into the following morning.
Calling at Mrs. Elton’s, he learned that the count had not been there;
that Miss Cameron had been very ill all night; but that she was rather
better since the morning.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account