"Then it's true--I'm mad." But after another moment he was up and hurrying into the next room for a sponge and a basin of water. "It's nothing! Nothing at all," said Stowell. "See, it has stopped already. And now sit down and listen." A few minutes later they were sitting side by side on the sofa--Gell sniffling, Stowell talking quietly. "Alick!" "Yes?" "Bessie is waiting for you. She thinks you are trying to obtain her pardon." "I know. She has written. But what can _I_ do? Nothing!" "If _I_ can help her to escape from Castle Rushen will you take her away from the island?" Gell's eyes glistened. "Only give me the chance," he said. "She could never come back. Therefore you could never come back either." "What do I care?" "You would have to give up everything--your inheritance, your family, your....!" "I .... I can't help that." "You are sure you would never regret the sacrifice?" "Never! Only show me the way...." "I will," said Stowell. And then he explained his scheme and the motives which had inspired it. He had been compelled to condemn the girl, according to law, but he had come to see that the old Statute was a crime, and that it was his duty to break it. "Do you say that, Victor--you?" "Listen." An Irish tramp steamer would be lying in Castletown Harbour on Sunday night. She would berth in front of the Castle, not more than fifteen yards from the gates. At eleven o'clock Stowell would open the Deemster's private door and bring Bessie out. Gell must be there to take her aboard. The tide being up, the vessel would sail immediately. She would sail north, past the Point of Ayre, to give the appearance of going to Scotland; but in the morning, when out of sight from the land, she would steer south and land her passengers at Queenstown. Atlantic liners called there twice a week and Gell and Bessie must take passages to New York. On reaching New York they must travel west--far west.... "But can it be done? Can you get Bessie out of the Castle?" "I've counted every chance," said Stowell. "Whatever happens, I must not fail." "What a good fellow...." began Gell, but Stowell dropped his head and hurried on with his story. "I've given the Irish Captain a hundred pounds, and you are to give him another hundred when he puts you ashore at Queenstown. I'll find you the money." "No, no! I've enough of my own--see," said Gell, and he showed the bundle of banknotes given to him by his father. "Your father gave you that?" "Yes, to pay my way to America." Stowell's face glowed with a kind of superstitious rapture. More than ever now he was certain he was doing right, that the Divine powers were directing him. But all the same he kept up the cunning of the criminal. "I must see you again to-morrow night in some secret place. Where shall it be?" "Why not the Miss Browns' at Derby Haven? They'll hold their tongues. They owe me something."