The livid colour spreading itself over Mrs. Andinnian's face grew more livid. "_I forbid it, Karl_. I forbid it, do you hear? You would ruin everything, I forbid you to go again on the Island, or to attempt to see Adam. Good heavens! you might be recognised for his brother." "And if I were?" cried Karl, feeling completely at sea. Mrs. Andinnian sat with her two hands on the edge of the tea-tray, staring at him, in what looked like dire consternation. "Karl, you must go away to-morrow. To think that you could be such a fool as to go _there!_ This is worse than all: it is most unfortunate. To-morrow you leave." "Mother, why will you not place trust in me?" he asked, unable to fathom her. "Do you think you could have a truer confidant? or Adam a warmer friend? I guess the object of Ann's visits to the Island. I saw her talking with one of the warders to-day--the same man, or I fancied it, that came here the other night. That moment solved me the riddle, and----" "Hush--sh--sh--sh!" breathed Mrs. Andinnian, in a terrified voice, ringing the bell, and looking round the walls of the room as if in dread that they had ears. "Not another word, Karl; I will not, dare not, hear it." "As you please, mother," he rejoined, feeling bitterly hurt at her lack of trust. "Have you more cream in the house, Ann?" said Mrs. Andinnian, calmly, when the woman appeared. "And you had better change the tray." The meal was concluded in silence. Karl took up a newspaper he had brought in; Mrs. Andinnian at moodily gazing into the fire. And so the time went on. Suddenly there arose the distant sound of guns, booming along on the still night air. To Captain Andinnian it suggested no ulterior thought; brought no cause for agitation: but his mother started up in wild commotion. "The guns, Karl! the guns!" "What guns are they?" he exclaimed, in surprise. "What are they firing for?" She did not answer; she only stood still as a statue, her mouth slightly open with the intensity of listening, her finger lifted up. In the midst of this, Ann Hopley opened the door without sound, and looked in with a terror-stricken face. "It's not _him_, ma'am; don't you be afeared. It's some other convicts that are off; but it can't be him. The plan's not yet organized." And Karl learnt that these were the guns from Portland Island, announcing the escape, or attempted escape, of some of its miserable prisoners. Well for him if he had learned nothing else! The true and full meaning of what had been so mysterious flashed upon him now, like a sheet of lightning that lights up and reveals the secrets of the darkness. It was not Adam's comforts they were surreptitiously seeking to ameliorate; they were plotting for his escape. His escape! As the truth took possession of Captain Andinnian, his face grew white with a sickening terror; his brow damp as with a death sweat.