"It was--oh! how my heart seems to sink--in a few hours more I shall know my fate!" "You will--and I am thankful for it. Your whining and teasing after that woman are enough to drive a saint mad! On my soul I wonder at you--I dare swear she has never thought of you once! Then there's her child, whatever are we to do with that, supposing our plan succeeds? To be sure it's easy giving it a heave into the sea! But yet it is an awful risk! Carrying off Ellen Ravensworth was one thing, but carrying off the Countess of Wentworth is another! Never mind--nothing like aiming high, as Lucifer once did." "And got a grievous fall for his pains too," put in L'Estrange. "As we perhaps, nay doubtless, shall!" said the Captain. "Had we not better think again? it is not too late yet," said L'Estrange. "It is too late; I haven't come all this way, nor been tossed on that rough sea for nothing! I tell you, however, I shall go and see only; if what we heard is true and she is alone, it is but a whistle and you come up, toss her over a nag, brain any flunkeys who interfere, and away over heath and moor to the boatie good! The sea is a road where it is hard to track a cunning fox like Bill." "I almost repent I ever came--after all if she did nothing but cry and lament, I could do nothing. Remember what I said, I will try by words, and if she doesn't come round again, I will take her back scathless." "A fool's errand that--you may do what you like after you have got her. I will be shot if I burn my fingers again for her, or any other woman under the sun! But here we are at last--I will whistle." The Captain--for though he no longer had a right to the name, we still know him best by it--then blew a shrill whistle. It was answered, and presently Archy Forbes appeared. "Glad to see ye baith looking sae weel--it's ay a saft night when we are about." "It is, Archy my boy! it's easy to see Heaven doesn't smile on us--but devil's weather for me! Have you the nags?" "Surely, surely--they are in yon byre--follow me." "Who are at the Towers, Archy?" said L'Estrange. "Dinna speer on me, sir! I have na been there this mony a day. Sin my father was dead and gane--Heaven rest him! the gear a' went wrang, and my mither and the bairns left. The laird wasna pleased, and folk say he kent mair than was right anent your honour's business, and thae----" "Peace, fool, who wants to hear about your concerns? If you had found out who were at the Towers you might have been somewhat worth listening to. Where is this byre, or what d'you call it?" "It's near by noo, yon dark house, wi' the reek frae the chimla." "All right--there's your hire--and now decamp and find out old Bill, and tell him to put the cabin in order for fair freight."