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Lorsqua la document est trop grand pour ttra raproduit en un seul cllcht. il est film* A psnir do Tangle supdrieur gauche, do gauche t droit*. et de haut en bea. en prenant la nombre d'Imagaa ndcaeeaira. Laa diagrammea suivants illuatrant la mdthoda. 1 2 3 1 2 3 4 5 6 ««c»ocorr risoiution tbi chart (ANSI ond ISO TEST CHART No. 1) A APPLIED IM/IGE In ^Sr. '653 East Moin Strwt ET-SS: 70ches(«f, New York U609 mc* r.^ (716) 482 -0300 -Phone :^=E (716) 288-5989 -Fax rv«=. «. DOOM CASTLE ORIGINALLV PUBLISHED ly •BLACKWOOD'S MACA2INE' DOOM CASTLE O^ %OMANCE NEIL MUNRO I riuocH,' AUTMnR 'JTHM KPLBNOIO,' ' THE THE COPP, CLARK CO.. LIMITED TORONTO WILLIAM liLACKWOOD AND SONS EDINBURGH AND LONDON '"' /iielil' reurxU PR STIOI 144329 // a/.. ,/ Entered aooording to Aot of the FarU«ment of Canida, in the yew one thouauid nine hundred and one, by Tub Copf, Claks Cohtamt, Limitwi, Toronto, Ontaiio, in the Office of the Hinlster of Agricoltare. CONTENTS. our. I. II. III. IV. V. VI. VII. VIII. IX. X. XI. XII. XIII. XIV. XV. XVI. XVII. XVIII. XIX. XX. COUNT VICTOR COMES TO A STRANGE COUNTRY THE PURSUIT BARON OF DOOM SEEKING A spy THE FLAGEOLET MUNGO BOYD THE BAY OF THE BOAR'S HEAD AN APPARITION TRAPPED SIM MACTAGGART, CHAMBERLAIN THE WOMAN AT THE WINDOW OMENS AND ALARMS A LAWYER'S GOOD LADY GLAMOUR A RAY OF LIGHT OLIVIA A SENTIMENTAL SECRET " LOCH SLOY ! " REVELATION . AN EVENING'S MELODY IN THE BOAR's HEAD INN VAfiC I 5 I6 30 42 46 54 59 67 76 88 96 105 '17 126 136 '44 M9 '55 164 VI CONTENTS. XXI. COUNT VICTOR CHANGES HIS QUARTERS XXII. THE LONELY LADY XXIII. A MAN OF NOBLE SENTIMENT XXIV. A BROKEN TRYST XXV. RECONCILIATION . XXVL THE DUKIi'S BALL XXVn. THE DUEL ON THE SANDS xxviii. THE DUEL ON THE SMms— Continued XXIX. THE CELL IN THE FOSSE XXX. A DUCAL DISPUTATION XXXI. FLIGHT XXXn. HER GRACE THE DUCHESS XXXIII. BACK IN DOOM XXXIV. IN DAYS OF STORM XXXV. A DAMNATORY DOCUMENT XXXVI. LOVE XXXVn. THE FUTILE FLAGEOLET XXXVIII. A WARNING XXXIX. BETRAYED BY A BALLAD XL. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT XLI. DAWN >75 1S7 197 201 20S 2'5 221 225 231 253 262 271 280 287 296 304 309 313 318 DOOM CASTLE. CHAPTER I. COUNT VICTOR COMES TO A STRANGE COUNTRY. It was an afternoon in autumn, with a sound of wintry breakers on the shore, the tall woods copper- colour, the thickets dishevelled, and the nuts, in the corries of Ardkinglas, the braes of Ardno, dropping upon bracken burned to gold. Until he was out of the glen and into the open land, the traveller could scarcely conceive that what by his chart was no niore than an a'm of the ocean could make so much ado; but when he found the incoming tide fretted here anJ there by black rocks, and elsewhere, in little bays, the beaches strewn with massive boulders, the high rumour of the sea - breakers in that breezy weather seemed more explicable. And still, for him, it was above all a country of appalling silence in spite of the tide thundering. Fresh from the pleasant rabble of Paris, the tumult of the streets, the unending gossip of the faubourgs that were at once his vexation and his joy, and from the eager ride that had brought him through Normandy when its orchards were busy from morning till night with cheerful peasants plucking fruit, his ear had not grown accustomed to the still of the valleys, the A DOOM CASTLE. fcr vjyaSS """*". ~« Inoa Ick omed™„ h, h«l, hough, LSSrht. S tne Argyll, at least on the ver^P r.f if . „ "'"V "' guess that the gentry in the wood COUNT VICTOR COMES TO A STRANGE COUNTRV. 3 ^'rSj':tntXlZL\''^ "--• ^•'^t they and that when Lh^dp^^'t^!'^:,rr''^P''' '«• a haughtv. well-set-upS W/ .11 1 '^^'^'-a^- fortune o/silk and silver lace ^hl ^°?^ ^'*'' ^ fob of a watch dan^hsJthlZ- ^P^^^' ^""^ '^e -they had promptlv out . T?- "'°'' temptingly and his possess^n^ Ind deriH i"f.,*'°."u"P°" ^'-^^elf givI^i^'p^^ssToVonarl" ^'^".""""^ '^^ly to them with Skf when i„ft """i.^'^^'J '"^ ^eard solemnity of the rcenerv^fhf.'"'' ^^ ^^^ '"''"'"an swoon to give back ev/'^*''^'.^''^ t°° deep in its the shor^ a^d he drew ,^ V^'V" *''^ ''^^aker on head a „ttle and listened 1,^- ''°"\ *"™^'l ^'^ when the rude calls of h^= '"""^ T*'' annoyance their unknown j™ t^St" ''^'=^'"«' ev^en in meant for him. ^ ' P''^'"'>' Peremptory and schoSTeie' Sd t'^el.Vh^ "^''^ ^ ^''^ ^ -chance to open deliberaS h"e's t hisTor?'" ^"'^ ^f -* -o're -^^^ray neither cifccrnr^^potr-J thrSt'bea'hL'"tL:r.'=^^^ ^h^" any of its accent, but no Mn„t!- i "^ "^^^^ ^as ordered by summons He puf th" &;*°T'' '° ^" '"^°'en^ the sturdy lowland Donv h.\ ^'^ *° *''« «anks of not so litti as a ?ook' bThi'nd '"*'°'^' ''"' '^^^'^^'l and soSn™f the° r' ' ''^'':'"°"thed musket, the rider's left Ct Thrh '"5 'P^"^""^<1 1'^h'nd scream of pain fen d, J=;? ""' swerved, gave a effort. Coun^t Victo savTd tim": uV''^^' ^''^ an body and clutched his pfstSF °™ "'^ '"^"■"S stood bewildered at tl,» if !i ; , ^""^ a moment he The pursuing shoust:d::i:H'''V'i^"?"& ^"™al. hazel-trees cluster n^th^^t^u^^''""* •"'"' «h°rt bramble, and ^^XaSj rgled'togSrf * DOOM CASTLE. coarse rank curtain of vegetation, quite still and iTaves? TnH^ fh ^°' 't ^'^^^'^ ^"""S the upper leaves), and the sombre distance, dark with mne believe his pursuers harboured there, perhaps re- loading the weapon that had put so doleful fcon- clusion to his travels with the gallant little horse he had bought on the coast of Fife! That silence that prevailing mvstery, seemed to be the es ence and XTI"^ Z'^'' '^"^' ^° '''ff^^e"* from hTs own. myriad towns and clamant cities brimmed with life CHAPTER II. THE PURSUIT. Paris society? °' '^""■^'*" '" ^^^ chronicles of r^pilrT^ES-^^^^^ assault^pon his horse wl^ "°* ^f°^ "P ^^eir the silence of he thicket ^olZ'^ *A7 '"'"'''"S '" alone and so obviously a 'theiScvV^T'i;' ^"^^^ *>^held provided the answer. ^ ' ^^^ P''*°'^ appS^^^^^ Count Victor, the saddle whereto it wL stranDed < tIT""' ^'T. z o/r ?L7orff ' ^""^ ^"* ^°-^-" " DOOM CASTLE. laKing ATiien the attack was made It was still he knew, some distance to th- castle Half an hour before his rencontre with those broken gentry, now stea ng in his rear with Vl,7 "roKen and ti,e bloodthirstiLss of theron'cf nl'veToref W^n/r^'v'^'^^T''^'"' ^'th the possibilkv of the to the Lord Manschal in exile, and read •— ^^ "1 ^ruKingias, a Hanovenan rat whom 'wai-p b™.„j .u ^h head and three miles further the cl^deo- ^!n ^ THE PURSUIT. now moved w thout show of I' "^"^^ °^ ^^^'^ »>« none the less, f"m '^I°JerTh'-f !f ' f * -l-ckly because the extent of it could „„♦ t^ alarm.ng the breakers roiSttusS^^^^^^ utter vacancy • onlv "",„""■ "" pe sea there was above th wa^e and thr/^T"""«>'^''^ «'=*"'ed him. gave Ws eU no Ifen T«' '="'^'"K ^" before whichV ha^^g^the^r froS °iu*,\^ ff *° moTjTn,S^*Se' f^*^ >-- r"°-omthT^^^ a promontory tower perched upon woSrottt^fittrtas^Twa""^ ^"V^ --''- that his eye had fafled at fiV 't to finT[t"'^H ^'"'^'' no pomps of lord or baron • I tt I„ i • "^""^ "^^""^ prevail behind those eSs Jab e,?h"'"" ^^''i'' no suave pleasance about those waLh'/L-°"''' ^ the noisy and inhospitable wave No |^"1°^« pleasant amenities- the t,J^Z j Pomp, no the sea, defying mlA'<:n?H-£;/^^'"^1 *° J"' '"to its gable en'^s^a^d oL cr"nekted'"bf,.-'"''^'"^'">'' betraying its sinister r^Jf-;- bastion or turret aspec[aWant"aLd unSdly 1^!!^%^'^°'^ perpetuate the sp?h Tfh ' 'T""-^^ ^^^^^^V t° solitude and terrors '''"'^' '*' «"^"'=«' '^^ " DOOM CASTLK. ViSr'^rh""T ^^'^'"^ "''°"S'' *•>« ™!nd of Count »h« K. T •'^/Ped, monstrously uncomfortable with t™'b*'"/'fw*''^ •?«» """t »^bbed on his back, not to speak of the mdignity of the office. It was no the tind of castle he Tiad looked for j but a c^«e °n like Bethune, it doubtless was, the oiilv one aoDarf^ he" Xht'""'^' ""' '''"''''' "^ obSly'^C: one' " Very well. God is good ! " said Count Victor who, to tell all and leave^o shred of misunJers and-' ing. was in some regards the frankest of pagans and he must be joeging on for its security. ^^ ' ^ But as he hurried, the ten broken men who had e^t?ava^^n?*1 u^ "is too ostentatious fob and the mn~ K^ "°'^'"? embroidery, and inspired further- ha"d^s^''?nl'nH"'fi,^ '•'^'^'y "'*•' **•« P«'°'« in his ?n.» . ; . ^"^*^°t'y the wood enveloped his phantom foes ; a bracken or two nodded, a haSel sapling swune back and forward more freely than the wincT a/ counted for And at the same time the ero^on the" afternoon he wail of a wildfowl high up onihe Wll no eTfM'" ' '•'I'T' """^ 9"^rulous t^-res^nS note of the same character in the wood before The gentleman who had twice fought a la barriere bo n^?"""!-"'' ""^ *•'""• ^ shudder of the bdng born of antique terrors generations before his arms Modenl"'"'"'' ^'"'^ "'"^^ ''' Rochefoucauld and broLTf '"='=°™'''g a".'°o awkward, this affair. He broke into a more rapid walk, then into a run with his eyes mtent upon the rude dark keep that he d capeThat°ffl' "h" '^"^ °"^ °''J^'=' '" ^» '^-^-^■ scape that had to his senses some aspect of human fellowship and sympathy. "uman The caterans were assured ; Dim du cul, how thcy THE PURSUIT Q hLll^f'h.*'Tl'*^ '"r t^'^"'^ ^'°^^ '"to »" appalling HiiS^'.^* ^?^^ of hunter, on the heels of quarry: High above the voice of the breakers it s2und7d savage and alarming in f ears of Count Victor and he fairly took to flight, t-.', bags bobbing more ;!d^ crously than ever on his back. It was like the man. that, in spite of dreads not to be concealed from himself, he should be seized as fa- sped with a notion of the grotesque figure he must fv^r?*' ""^'"K that imnfoperlurdem He mus even laugh wlien he thouglit of his austere punctili- ous maternal aunt, the Baronne de Chenfer and n?nhf'i-''""^°"-5'' ''"K"^t could she Bd her nephew disgracmg the De Chenier blood : vcarnrine his own baggage and outraging several centuriS of devilishly flneTiistory by i^nning-posiS run- nmg-from ill-armed footpads wEo hkd never^wZ ntfL^^u°''^'^ ^fP**^ to crackle at the arm- pits, the seven hairs on lier upper lip would bristledl wasTh?irtfre"r ^" P|:^r« ^^^'^ =•« "^e "rtd " CTandfa?her h^i"^""' f^°P^^P^' '" h« mother's grandfather that was m his craven legs. Doubt It who will, an imminent danger will not whollv dispel the sense of humour, Ind Montaiglon is Lrnne'''"" '""^ '""^P^'^^' '^"g«>ed softtyT'thl . But a short knife with a black hilt hissed rast 1,;= right ear and buried three-fourths of its en1th^?„'the grass and so abruptly spoiled the comedy. This rc^fnd f h ? ■'• "^ ?*°PP^'l ^"ddenly, turned him round about ,n a passion, and fired one of the pisto" th. hr^t *""a'^'°u''^' '°° '^te to duck among the bracken. And the marvel was that the bullef Sot i? '1°'"'' H '^^ "™ ^^^ uncertain and he aJtack more for an emphatic protest than for The gled's cry rose once more, rose higher on the h.11 echoed far ofT, and was twice reS nearer hand with a dropping melancholy cad^ce. St 10 •JOOJI CASTLE. over to where the woundS'oCd'; l^y '"" '^^^ °' the apparent Trajdl o/"^ act a"^" vlSPf "'=** "' unmistakable in ^lTmL""'Hr/° ""if '"' »'"♦ wildly for the tower tC^oHn "* *"'""';'* «"d ««> in it f his heart d™mmL no aspect of sanctuary mouth i^rche^* anTgTL^d"°'SVJL„^'l •'"?.'«". ''^ httle dropped water; Waited the^salt of h'^t '" " and felt sore a'S ?he hL^'nH^'"^"'*.''" '"'««. neithfr sight ^l- rtohe"enUy'.''^ *''^^'' -" when' Ju^'Sraf thr :h^^*H^^*'°° fr"- this, yards of the cas^e Jh m P''"' '^"^'" **° hundred Wed his wawl'n'^rif h!" Vn^'stakable enemj bare legs mosf LfesquS' fen?' °^'' "^^ ^'^^ a protuberant rnunT- but h.5 T °^ «I.^"''^ ^'^^ in his legs to cStv him m '^^r'','' "!"^* •>" 'e been bred .li4s'°haT^bo™"e r:nrSr'^" l?rr«'!,- sneering in the nath ♦„,»• "'"or. He stood of a soiled and ^^tJS.\-}l'' '-'i^' ^'^^^e hand, the right beTn?=^?lT ^Y "^'^ ^'^ '«« a sword of I Lwol f hlf^^^ ^°^' ominously with THE PURSUIT. releMlnjf as he did m th« .». n tanglement of his ,Un, T?". »w°'"«* from tho feucedly i„ hi. w^ As hc^^''"« *'" M?cht the man barring hiV palh h« ''P/'''«":''«d closer to and opened a Darlev iS^c? f f^'^Psed into a walk Damoiselle Picoree. " 'ootpads lived upon openw^itR2e;'"ro?o^f ''^' " <>"« might niy presence mak/s itlf°LTcH T ■'" " '"'"^^for I cannot comprehend wh^i? „!«""". ^''^^h'ere' unfortunate traveller.'^ "" """n out to one 100kfv4 <>> tU- _ '. .'" "S lOr mv rwn.^l^ >• . ■■ -.. uuo a nonour wnnM ' F<""aji They a« so essentiSV7mitror'/°' *''«»'' He would have bantered ot- e'^^ustom." the very nose of the en!^ T }\ '''" strain up to was utterly unres^nsiH^ hi h " """ '" ^is K he ' ^^ <=^"ed he might have thought a de^ertXut' -r"'', *''"' of smoke did no' irise frnmr r"'" .'^ =* column woods behind seemed to have swpffif !? T^e dim sound of the broken men whn T* f .^* "^ "^''* ^"'^ ing up their quarrv to th'-. '..^* *^"J*' ^^''^ foUow- instead of to that of Bamn T'"^ °f MacCailen Mor fore time to prep^e hYmse^hU "f ^^^ '''''^^ sat on the shore and took off h^ »l "^''*. '*^P- "« the quite charming si k stocking. 1^^^"-i°"^ ^°°*'' the wilds; then looked dnh^TP so unlike travel in the castle. No ' manifest^l ^ ^ ^* *"' ^'?^' ^"^ ^t was not to be tho^gC of anH^^PP'"^"'' ^° ^^"k unbuttoning the foot of hi, . ?1 compromised by them over his knees Inn' P^"taloons and turning over that yeasty and JLrZTu' '^ ""^ t"^ '° ''^^'^ must get wet A iZZ^ i^ barrier, his clothing M DOOM CASTLE. the Count waded into the tide, that chilled deliciously after the heat of his flight. But it was ridiculous! It was the most con- demnable folly ! His face burned with shame as he found himself half-way over the channel and the waves no higher than his ankles. It was to walk through a few inches of water that he had nearly stripped to nature ! And a woman was laughing at him, morbleu! Decidedly a woman was laughing — a young woman, he could wager, with a monstrously musical laugh, by St Denys ! and witnessing (though he could not see her even had he wished) this farce from an upper window of the tower. He stood for a moment ir- resolute, half inclined to retreat from the ridicule that never failed to affect him more unpleasantly than danger the most dire ; his face and neck ilamed ; he forgot all about the full-bosomed Baronne or remembered her only to agree that nobility demanded some dignity even in fleeing from an enemy. But the shouts of the pursuers that had died away in the distance grew again in the neighbourhood, and he pocketed his diffidence and resumed his boots, then sought the entrance to a dwelling that had no hospitable portal to the shore. Close at hand the edifice gained in austerity and dignity while it lost the last of its scanty air of hospitality. Its walls were of a rough rubble of granite and whinstone, grown upon at the upper storeys with grasses and weeds wafted upon the ledges by the winds that blow indifferent, bringing the green messages of peace from God. A fortalice dark and square-built, flanked to the southern corner by a round turret, lit by few windows, and these but tiny and suspicious, it was as Scots and arrogant as the thistle that had pricked Count Victor's feet when first he set foot upon the islet. A low wall surrounded a pc'ch of garden-ground to the rear, one corner of it grotesquely adorned with a bower all bedraggled with rains, yet with the red THE PURSUIT. J- garden ^d up to the do^r fts arch^ n„nH '""'" deep-moulded, hunt a srnwl.nJ u' P°"^ --^ -*»> the i6 CHAPTER III. BARON OF DOOM. Deep in some echoing corridor of the stronghold a man s voice rose in the Gaelic language, ringing in a cry for service, but no one came. Count Victor stepped back and looked again upon the storm-battered front, the neglected garden the pathetic bower. He saw smoke but at a single chimney, and broken glass in the little windows, and other evidences that suggested meagre soup as common fare in Doom. ... ",M- Bethune's bowl," he said to himself, " is not hkely to be brimming over if he is to drink it here. M. le Baron shouting there is too much of the gentle- man to know the way to the back of his own door; Glengarry again for a louis !— Glengarry sans feu ni Iteu, but always the most punctilious when most nearly penniless." Impatiently he switched with the sword at the weeds about his feet ; then reddened at the appre- hension that had made him all unconsciously bare the weapon at a door whose hospitality he was seeking, rapped again, and sheathed the steel. A shuffling step sounded on the stones within, stopped apparently just inside the door, and there fell silence. No bolt moved, no chain clanked. But something informed the Count Victor that he was being observed, and he looked all over the door till he saw that one bolt-boss was missing about the height of BARON OF DOOM. »7 his head, and that through the hole an eye was watch mg him It was the most absurd thine aTd ™i ment with a hole in a door will not m.'tt^i -PfL'" Victor saw its owner fully revlaled A grey eye inquiring, an eye of middle aee that had caution as well as humour. A domeltic-a menial eye too, but for the life of hinT Count vTcT;, could not resist smiling back to it n?r^ f.t\^V''''^- ^'^^ ^ ch^art! with wrinkles' ruddy at the cheeks as a winter apple, and a«7red in a mulberry-brown. He put his heels ogether with a mechanical precision and gravely gavf a mS.^ fool fn':?d"e ihe'Zr' ''°""* ^'"^^"^ ^°™^"y' -^h a smacked of Fife ; wh^en he heard" "countvfctS ,_ Is your master at home ? " lie asked. wha^;rtrke;,^;^^rtt^r^^^^^^^^ Tjt "i°°* D°°«.' -.thoS there's f wo- LTeft s a Zl'^r ."S" ""'^ ^''^^''^^ '^^ Baron^ oot or in Fran^J."l^f ^' Montaiglon ; I am newly from r i8 DOOM CASTLE. rri'Jlt^ (?'»?'■ "^y* .'?' Monsher de Montaiglon." cried the rittlr man with a salute more profound than J^tn FranJ?'." ""^ *° ^^ y°"' --^hoo are '^ "Tolerably well, I thank.you," said Count Victor hoe ,„ the door, and seized the stranler's ma?i^ With three rap.d movements of the feet, executed in iLht ,h.T'^^ ^'T °^ * '°^'^'^'' •>« tunied to the In^d led th.''^"''''-\'''°"'^' '1"^^«<^ his shculders, m,','P'^ ^f>'' y°i"' •^onour," said he. " Ye'U paurdon t^e auu''&^°' ',!'' ^ ?'™'''''y •'°°^^ thfs for a" tne auld, bauld, gallant forms and ceremonies I tt drolTV n"^ '■°°°' '" " ^•'^^'y fr^« the toon and Its droll I never saw ye land. There ,/as never Sori't"h »°°"\-?thoot the kenni?'o"The garrison. It happened amce in Black Hueh's time found ^h'P' °, C^l"P^lis frae Ardkingla" fnd k^^ found themselves m a wasp's byke." ^ fnr t^! ^^""k ^i^^bled in the dusk of the interior, rnJr '^°°' •'^'^..^''"t of itself behind them, and the corridor was unl.t except by what it borrowed from an open door at the far end, leading into a roor^ of thl ="/ °f •'"':""'& peats filled the pllce ; the sou^d of the sea-breakers was to be heard in a murmur as to tne ear. And Count Victor, findhe all his oleasant anticipationsofthecharacterofthisbirSdS utterly erroneous, mentally condemned Bethune °o perdition as he stumbled behind the little grotesque aping the soldier's pompous manner. grotesque to hU ^T *''''* '^"t Y^'l* '"omination there was to his entrance was held half open by a man who cSLslty ^""°' ' ^^^"'' whereirwerJsurpri^:„d BARON OF DOOM. soldier's mechS orE*^ ^"^/' =*'". ""^^ the door to give d°gX'^toTh"'-?'^^^^ ''/'he entrance. ^ ^ *° *'''' introduction and the forSityoThis^e^anTwhe"'!:^'^ '°\*''^ °-^. ♦ 5? *°,"'^ ^^ and one sunk deep nasstew^IU°H t'f ^'^ °" '*■ ^'"dows age than'^tWs^lSt Vktor lok^il ^°'f ''■^^"ng and found revealed to Mm ;° I I" \* ^ e'^n^^^' mendacity of all thlr " ^ ^^^h the colossal Macdona ds who had fmS.vT'f ^^T^gors, and liberately s at^d over m.^ ' '''^^ had not de- lansquenet at C^rZtr ?cf ^=""^' °f P'quet or typical pLSTSoi;.^ magnificence ''of the chair dr^wruptair'/'"S= \t '<=-* beside the apartment" la^aVook'uponn' tabt'a'r.'^ '""^ character Stic nf tho r^ \. u . ^^' ^"° 't was ■oved spoTand*v1ll^„°"l:e'°,Thlt'r%^^ ■?! ^■trun h. eyes a little and tiirhistad'slghVote 30 DOOM CASTLE. what manner of literature prevailed in these wilds. And the book gave him great cheer, for it was an old t rench folio of arms, ' Les Arts de L'homme d'Ep^e ; °"'Jt^.,P'"="°°na''-e du Gentilhomme,' by one Sieur de GuiUe. Doom Castle was a curious place, but apparently Hugh Bethune was in the right when he described its master as " ane o' the auld gentry, wi' a tattle and herrin' to his dejeune, but a scholar's book o|^n against the ale-jug." A poor Baron (of a vastly different state from the Baron of France), English spoken too, with not much of the tang of the heather in his utterance though droll of his idiom, hospitable (to judge from the proffered glass still being fumbled tor in the cupboard), a man who had been in France on the right side, a reader of the beau langage, and a student of the lore of arme blanche— come.heTe was luck I And the man himself? He brought forward his spirits in a bottle of quaint Dutch cut, with hollow pillars at each of its four corners, and two glasses ex- travagantly tall of stem, and he filled out the drams upon the tajjle, removing with some embarrassment before he did so the book of arms. It surprised Count Victor that he should not be in the native tartan of the Scots Highlander. Instead he wore a demure coat and breeches of some dark fabric, and a wig conferred on him all the more of the look of a lowland merchant than of a chief of clan. He was a man at least twenty years the senior of his visitor— a handsome man of his kind, dark, deliberate of his movements, bred in the courtesies, but seemingly, to the acut«r intuitions of Montaiglon, possessed of one unpardonable weakness in a gentleman— a shame of nis obvious penury. "I have permitted myself, M. le Baron, to inter- rupt you on the counsel of a common friend," said count Victor, anxious to put an end to a situation somewhat droll. "After the goblet, after the goblet," said Lamond sottly, himself but sipping at the rim of his glass. BARON OP DOOM. ai PoliteIj;'cag*uL*Th"efirr'" '''" *"« Count down (he glass ^itCn Ipolo^ '"'"°''' '""' P"«'"K the Count de Mont^^o„ ■' '"''^ °^ ""^ '""'^^' ^ '^^ " Do^;ou"tin''^r'n" T.?'^"?'^ ~"f"«'°n- are the Ce'tei^Xr /I.^IJ VcIm ^''^" y°" your own language-that i. «n f "''* ^''J' *° '" known to me only in lett^^ ^" ^'o^^'^ e°«. mains " makin /-,»»"• ^'"'^ Saint Gar- room, with a shrewd gfaPce°'u^n° h^ "^'^ '*°^" ^''^ bygoing-"H'm I-ve h^Pn ^^ '"^ "''*°'' '" the myselff there T^e several of the' h" M '^°'' *"™ about the place." ° Highland gentry meln?ct Co";'PrSed7""^.''v^^*''"- °f Balli- " Knowing that I w?c """^ ^"='°'' meaningly. world. and^hafa'p:ALTm!t° *''" P^« "'^''^ might be awkwarHlv ^ ^ *°"^^ ^"d Pol'tics vince of ArS he toor.IT'*?!!""'* '" '^^ P^o- your directi-^ts one in lt,''''1!^y,-*° «'^« ■"« repose myself I r^^o ''°l^ ''''ehty I might and skirted your noTv .^'^^ *''" ^'"^^^ *" Albion name of a frS wL f ^ .'^"^l' ^'"> ^^^ °ne cheerful." ' '^'"^'^""' '° ""^ke the strange cliffs hai^Sr '•Zn'd°a-Bith'' ^"°" ^'-P'^ -th I am proud that he shou^ m • °I' "fTr-weli; well I in the tame Highlands r.,« °[ ^'' °" ^'end wistfulness camf n th; pp°°''. Hugh ! "_a strange Hugh . he-ia^:/°iBXn\r'^"r " ^•°°'^ or" ^P:^Tr^„^„"„f .,^fter all^e waf„o"tl' Marischd's taiV- ' ^°' ""^^ '^^^ ^e was in the Pe:LI^^-^ -:^;;™ J -„^, beyond if iiti " DOOM CASTLE. Highland ^plrit?^' ' '" *"" ' "■"" ^''"•'""'y f"" °f Count Victor smiled. he'caJL^f*"^^ !"'' °?'y ^ea'"'«=« that nowadays A .,^r 1 . '*'' '"l* '^'8"'ty than he used to do n/r^ ''' V°° '""•='» °f "'c Highland spirit Mle - fri^^tlT" '°^P'' ""'^ '°'^'' '"♦" Franc':.'?„ l^lith " and nlTil" ' " '''''^u •'^ ^'''°"' heedless of the irony the iLoDle of th^-^ ? ' \"y^^"i.^ wonderful. It cos could not go over the moor to Lennox there C any drover by the roadside kent you for a sm,l InLtv ^ ^T'^y 2^ "^"=^^"^- Some people w.Tbe g^ wtWer.t*t?!fr?^f^^ '"'^'' ^ P--^^S soLwhVtTu^id'"'''^'^" ^'' ^"^^^^^ C°""* Victor, BARON OF DOOM. »3 sympa'theStnt'"^?!': Z' ^°""' Victor wifiT it yet ? " "' '""« ^■■e some who wear too, though the dirt .f fhi!!^ i ' •*"?. ""« '"'""w certain of either fact In t^.'"p'^'; •1'^"^'="'* '° ^e I believe, for the infidel fn/t'^« '^'^ customary, he intrudes on slcredglundL^v ^''- ^""^ ^''"' stockings, but I had tf dSt mvseTf^nf'h";^ t''""* and stockings. I waded ■«?„ n^ °, ''°*'* ^°°^^ audie^U^^rm^wS tv'e^ Sl^'tJe" ^""^ your tanan-l^oK^s^ ol'"L5lr.°'^"-i°" 'o it must have be'ensome°n? ^l 'l^ '"^'P" °' ^^^'^hes; gested the Baron °^ *''' """^^ ^°''^'«^«-" ^ug- Count Victor shrugged his shuulders. " I think I »4 DOOM CASTLE. if know a red-coat when I sec one " mi.t h» <• ti. all to be circumspect ; is it not so ? " ^*^° mousSche"°'Ve" st SVo^'m""' '"n°*^ turbation. and he 'co J^l Ld l^mseirtTa cLf" points, drew forth his rapier w th a flourish =„^ '"°<^„^"f wholesome tastes and talents. "'^""^'^ attacked me a mile or two farther nn^hi *y'«?ns mv horse below me, and'chLYef ^e^^o'^L'vS ete or your moat. I made a feint to shoot one with r^v t'^nded." ""' '^°''' °" *''^ ^°'d than iTaS Tn"! " The Macfarlanes ! " cried Doom, with every si^n of uneasiness. " It's a nifv if = -^ ™ ^.'S" l
  • ■' -'^^ bWinl Doom laughed " Come, come, Mungo," said he thl ro r"* T^'^ '^^'"'^'y ^' <^xpected%; wah &; ttnTy^Sui^-gr™^' ^"""'"S -■''^ '" ^'^ •'-•'en said?h'e unf :d''r:?:ir '"^ '^""" *° '^""^ ^ »>"-" -r;pr?At:if:^'^--:--His a'^fx^rras'weSLrir' ^— ^- .„,^ .'. "^ .seemed to Montaiglon a harsh dis cordanttortunng of reeds when fieard on the'sfai; outside h.s chamber, seemed somehow more mellowed andappropnate-pleasing even-when it c^e fmm i'Yhtlitttf i^'^"*'^'"" -^°- Wro°wn waiK tne little lowlander strutted as he nlavcd thn evening melody of the house of Doom_a pibroch all dTin^ 7' h passion and with melancholy The mu^c int"o 1 h '"'° ^°""?*!!'"^ ™°^^ than'^human wavi fhnf .1, harmony with the monotone of the wave that thundered on the rock- it so^mJ^ lu voice of choiring mermen; it had the bit e^ess tEe uTo'ftmroT't''''^'^' "'l!'' '^'^'^ ProfoundTit wi lit te Doom ^Lu y- "'^'''' ^"^ °''l ^=^'5. For a the form.? iu'^ ^'"*°.'' ^^ ^"'^"t hstening to it. the former, with a strain upon his countenance 3a DOOM CASTLE. i ■ I it i' he drew wWe sharing Vh» ^°^«'""™^nt. whose pay secrets of the extd jLobLr'- T°*'""'=' ^"'^ '^' Baron," he protested '• wil n ^f anot, my dear this wretch.'^ ffispresere t„^'*>'=^^d ^^Pared with pollut^the air =/a/eT;r„y UTlnSaSr..^''-''^ up d£tretT£st''.*s'„rs \tr°"H*^?^'"« the only one. Do you knovv I Vn^^ '''^'^ • ^"^ ""* kent names far ben in thl> r ""="*'°" ^^'l- hereabouts at all but of I rfrh k"'^?^" ""* °f you may perhaps not gue^s all th-Tt" ''''' *''°"Sh they're in Paris UD to thHiK * means-and trade. It's well known to "^ "T '" ^^^ ^^^e should be, anTi Ses me t°h'^f °^ yourselves, or to the shire of Argyll on account V°" ^^°f^ ^°™^ no worse than three or fnn? °^ °".^' ^'^ ^ *ake it, by stepping acrosslhrro^rtrRoScor ^""^ m the Rue Vaueirarri T^t. '^o'^'" s coffee-house troubleshave b«n leal InouTn?""' 'V^' ^^"^ credit, but some of thp „^^r^ ' ^ ",S>ve them thot 2;nce TearlaTh1S%rt^eryr^r°SS theL^:n%r4i;ira^i%e:!?:;.er;'^^^^^^^^^^^^ on a great woollen night-cowl of gtdy'kue^^itK SEEKING A SPY. 33 superb tassel that bobbed grotesquely over h.s beady he'S^;;^ !^Z!5 ^li-^-^i^. f-n;; said might be needful for Lti%. u^ a whi e'ter in he:?:ilitt\a'lgCt:u^1^^°"hr '">' '=°™"^ atrtKL^TlriF'^^ ^^-A^diJ^^'^-t^is^^ "^ Doom wi!h"y™hf """'■ ' '^^" --P-hend." said Ion' ^" 'Z '±'J°'' ''''i'°"l' ^^'"«='" =^'d Montaig. jon. My regard soared above the clav • I ov^H tWs man' """"^ '"i^ "^^ "°* ind.ff:renf to Ve tm tnis man came m her \vi\- u^ k„j lu . devil's tongue; at leastrhad"the'de;i ^/e' and she died six months ago with her h7nH L ' ^ could tell you the stofy^^M^lttTLuTit iJin™! the books and you can fancy it easily She HipH icbi, mis. i;,xcuse my mterferpnrp Tt j„ .^ 34 DOOM CASTLE. how quickly the worst misfortunes and wroncs mav be forgotten. In your place I would leaTthls man to the punishment of his own conscience.^^ ^" KkS2™s ire T,£"d^:t .^ __ And the man's name? you have not mentioned in pfa^nVe'^'six ITf^^.""-' ""f-. ^" ^^^ '^^^' -"""ths neifr^ nn 'thi v\*^"l'"S'°''^'"S ''^side the Baig- neurs on the Estrapade, Rue Dauphine. He came with no credentials but from Glengarry, and n^w ^. I,"^^"^ f " f'^*. "° ^«°»"' °f him ^except tha^ in thf HTghlrn/:^'"^''^ *° ''™ °^ commortt: thrBion.X.'^-^'''''"' '''"''''" ^^*='^™'='^ "And presumed to be burdened with a danpprn,,.: "^Drfmr/'lr.'.*'' '^' "=""^ °f Drimdarroc'h." " I have never seen the man so far as I know fnr I was at Cammercy when he hung about helal " mere^KS?'" ''''^'^' ^-^ -flecj^lfy^. a 1 j'^"** .*°'"^ ^°'^''= he dropped in the ear of tf,<. £^a!^^t^^Kr^U&--- wpn^rL'""?''l t "'^" °''l" than myself, dark Telf ,Y ^ •?,''°"''*. '^y ^ "="> something like voir-' easVmi^nT-ri." P^^''"" ^^e comparison, iithaTs easy mmd, if he remembers his friends aAd his oast " Doom pushed back his chair a little from the fire SEEKING A spy. 3S but with jt taking his eyes from the peats, and made a curious suggestion. "Ycu would not take it to bo me, would you ? " he isked ■' Connt Victor laughed, with a gesture of his hands that made denial all unnecessary. _^ " Oh ! but you do not know." went on the Baron. Some months of caballing with our friends— even our Hielan' friends— m the France, left me with an un\yholesome heart that would almost doubt mv father in his grave. You mentioned the name Drim- darroch-is it not the odd thing that you should speak It to the only man in the shire that ever had the right to use it ? Do you see this ? " and rising he stepped to a recess in the wall, only half curtained, so that Its contents overflowed into the chamber, and by a jerk of the hand revealed a strange accumula- tion of dusty documents in paper and in parchment. He looked at them with an aspect of disgust, and stirred them with a contemptuous toe as if he med- dled with the litter of a stye. ,'i'^^:''l'^P'^}"'" head. " So," said he. Perh.-ips I am too much Quixote, for 1 saw her but a few times, and that briefly. She was like a —like a fine air once heard, not all to be remem- bored, never wholly to be forgot. She had a failing, perhaps-the error of undue affection to qualify her for a sinful world. As it was, she seemed among other women some rarity out of place— Venus at a lantern feast." '• And ye would send this man to hell that he may tind his punishment in remembering her? If 1 thought so much of vengeance I would leave him on the earth forpetting." " M. le Baron. I make you my compliments of vour complacence." said Count Victor, rising to his' feet and desirous to end the discussion. "I am only- Victor de Montaiglon, poorly educated in the forgive- ness of treachery, and lamentably incapable of the nobility of the heart that you profess. But I can be grateful ; and if you give me the hospitality of your house for a day or two. I shall take care that neither It nor Its owner will be implicated in my little affair. Touching retirement "—he went on with a smile— 1 regret exceedingly an overpowering weariness. I have travelled since long before dawn, and burning the candle /ar Us deux bouts is not, as Master Mungo hints, conducive to a vigorous reception of the Mac- farlanes if thev feel like retaliating to-morrow, and making your domicile the victim of my impetuosity and poor marksmanship." ■> r j Doom sighed, took up a candle, and led the way into the passage. A chill air was in the corridor, that smelled like a cellar underground, and as their footsteps sounded reverberant upon the flags un- carpeted, Doom Castle gave the stranger the impres- sion of a vault. Fantastic shadows danced macabre in the light of the candles ; they were the only furni- ture of that part of the rough dwelling that the owner shufiled through as quickly as he could to save his guest from spying too closely the barrenness SEEKING A SPY. 39 of the land. He went first to the outer door with the candle before he said good night, drew back great bars, and opened the oak. The sky was studded with pale golden stars; the open air was dense with the perfume of the wood, the saline indication of the seaware. On the rocky edge of the islet at one part showed the white fringe of the waves now more peaceful; to the north brooded enormous hills, seen dimly by the stars, couchant terrors, vague vast shapes of dolours and alarms. Doom stood long looking at them with the flame of the candle blowing inward and held above his head —a mysterious man beyond Montaiglon's compre- hension. He stood behind him a pace or two, shivering in the evening air. " Vou'll be seeing little there. I'll warrant. Count, but a cold night and inhospitable vacancy, hard hills and the robber haunting them. For me, that pros- pect is my evening prayer. I cannot go to sleep without it, for fear I wake in Paradise and find it's all by with Doom and the native hills for me." And by that he seemed to Montaiglon more explicable : it was the lover he was ; the senti- mentalist, the poet, knowing the ancient secret of the animate earth, taking his hills and valleys passionately to his heart. The Frenchman bowed his sympathy and understanding. " ^* ^,^ wonder Mungo kept his word and went to bed," said the Baron, recovering his ordinary manner, " for it would just suit his whim to bide up and act sentry here, very well pleased at the chance your coming gave him of play-acting the man of war." He bolted the door again with its great bars, then gravely preceded his guest to the foot of the turret stair, where he handed him the candle. "You're in a dreary airt of the house," he said apologetically, "but I hope you may find it not uncomf table. Doom is more than two-thirds but empty , and the bats have the old chapel above ii 40 DOOM CASTLE. you. Oidhche mhath! Good night!" H. t.„ a enemies from broken nn^ "^^^" ^"'^ mischievous upon the lan^ingtwer^than ^t ^""■f"'' ^'^''^^^^ he had not observed nnn„v « ?""* ^ ^°"^ <=°"""dor candle held high abo™ hi'' ^-"^''^ ^"i^"'" .^'"^ ^''^ passage, that seemed t„hf "^ ^^ ?'?""<^ '"'o "le hand. In a castTe i ^ 'r'^'^' '^°°'"^ °" either knowledge of th/s Inn. '^T'^^ °'=^"P'^'* ^^e very neightourhood of wrf,/"^ ^""P^^ ^""'^^"^ i" the a sense of cMl and m^lf ^'"^ apartment conferred perceive the odour ofTr^^d^^i''""^,^* ^^ ^°"'<1 lime, hanging rotten i" =^' '^^'^T^ •'^°°''' crumbled upon with^the dust of yea s^" n"L';"\""'^ T^^^'' involuntarily "this U n!. n •"'^"' „he exclaimed for some reLf from th? ^'"^^'''y" He longed that hung about the oLe 1 VfT^ """"^ '''ead been a rlvela«on =, =Vr • ^ '"'"«'' «"'"" have healing. And all' at onri\°^ '"i"^ ^ '"'^^'^'e °f Annapfa as yet unseen " '^^ '^''^'^'^'^ "P"" '^- the farther iZ tStnl n? ' ''"'^ '}^ "f'"* *» ^e the flame wL puffed "ut T^"' ^"^ ^' ." '^''^ '° caprice that he drew him= if If™^? '° ^"""^^ a w^l. ready by instiW fnT ^ ^^"'P^y ^S^'"^* the that wasVKw r„dfhfn'h'''"'-'°-' "'"''' own alarm at a trick nf f h *''^" .''\ ^""'ed at his Lamond's iU patched w»mI "!!", '''!;°l'Sh ^^^^ of tionin the sense of rnm^^-' ^"u'*- '^°"°'^ '''^ "^on^ola- of a thin line of lkhrS"''!!P'=°"'^.™^'^ ''y sight curious passage ^ '""^ ^ '^°°' ""<^-^^y "P the " Thtr&v?;4 S^pJuiSatW' '=''^''^"^- that, .n truth, is to conc^ie''r I'a^TT^s'c^a^; SEEKING A SPY. 41 h^o:^Lr^:"' "^ ""'"'"«'' -ft'y - he entered Wearied exceedingly by the toils of the day he sltl ♦k""" ''"?^'" '''■"^^'f "Pon the bed thti he slept with no need for the lullaby aid of the sea?ha? nimoured hght and soothingly^ound the rock of 4* § 'If CHAPTER V. THE FLAGEOLET. He woke from a dream of pressing danger and im potent flight to marvel where he was if SarknesT- rancied himself at first in some wayside inn midwaO S KStf ° ^\^ -Kor^^hrsetVo-fTme s arht space of the little window to give him a ^nl -^Jf situation. Then he rememblrld D™m and with he window for his key, buiU up the L'Slrm ■' "■°°'"' ""'' -""d-red^::* the'cau'^e of thJ^^u""'!^ ^^^ "^^" ^n"* sent a loud murmur through the trees along the coast; the ^ea ?n Kh^"^^'"' ''^1*.°" *he rock till D^omlhrobbe^ 3 VI* tw° days on coarse roads and encountered and fought with banditti. Decidedly tL.re v^s s^me h^X? V^^, "jght; danger on har/fierd?hl^ gTy^n him blood alert and unsleeping; the alarmr, X!= tZT'^'^^K^I^ *'^^^^*- StealfhJy he pulo^t Ws hand and it fell as by a fiddler's instinct upon the spot desired-the hilt of his sword. There he keot quSed. "■"'*' subdued, and th-- alarum sever^g An owl's caU sounded on the shore, extremely THE FLAGEOLET. a foot stumbling among "tones ^ ^ '^^ '°""*^ °^ ^rtSr^~»^-coS^Ir the tower' aid "diSln" t'^ "^^T^ fr""" ^^e foot of swept elsew"e'e''bj he' winrten'lr** °i \- voice of the wave th^ r«!^ 'r ^ ' through the whistle in venTand crLnv^" °^ ^^^ ^ "'^' ^"^ **« inhuman, somXg u^?e^"fo„, .v"""'^r" '"""'' brancein delirium of dream ^hi'V"^ .'?'^ "^'n«™- with a thousand rLoSon<=!f'*/°V'''^P^"^'^° tinjes. passionate%SSewhere°' Som'rohfJ ich%rr^Ll't \t'^^^°'^* ^t^-d'^niSSt' wave of eZtlon Jh re drh1s"n"'/r"^,?'='= ^' ^ crystalled in a sero„dlman;^itts of^f "'' ""? oong anew experienced in » J. n "^"'^^ ='°'l an old love reincarnat^H fn a u ^"°^ °°'^ ""^ two ; in the dust)r?heTvenfngs oteir''.*'^r°'"*" and Louis's darling flutf nininl r " 'i."^'^ ^^^i"' over the field and rfvermo^n^, J 1.'"°'" *''^ '=''=''«^" Somehow the elusive nature of the music gave it 44 DOOM CASTLE. JJ^nH ^A^^^'^J '*' "'''eic. It would die away as the THE FLAGEOLET. sTeSes? thfTffa„^\i^« •'-"ties there, the despair, the longW eten f h« ?'''"°"' '''^ ithe smoke of calm hearths into a sky withou I cloud. The castle itself, for all its naturaUrro^ce ^nd menace, had something pleasant in its aSrect did ni^V'T '•'?' 'T^l ^'"^«""' ^here the Sn did not display its dishevelment and even tie be com'pts'ure?"" "'" '"^ ''"' '''' ""^^ ^ l^koni^'u. To add to the morning's cheerfulness Muneo was afoot whistling a ballad air of the low cfunl^ with a regard for neither time nor tune in h^s puckered lips as he sat on a firkin-head a? an ou ! house door and gutted some fish he had caught wUh h.s own hands m a trammel net at the rivelmou h UUNCO BOYD. 47 before Montaiglon was awake and the bird, as the Gaelic goes, had drunk the water. Gude mornin' to your honour," he cried with nn up to nim. Ye re early on the move, monsher- a thehJT"^ '^'"' of cunning, thought MontSonn the beady eyes of him. but the stranger only smiled at the ease of those Scots domestic mlnners?^ I did veiy well. X thank you," said he " IWv ridmg and alf the rest of it yest'erdTy would hS ^f:.^Li^^ """'^'^ '"^'"^^ ''^ drum^f°a ma'rch! pr^^^^rha^tK^VtheVts—^^^^ accustomed office. " Thaff richt When we Lre campa.gn.n'wi Marlborough oor ladrhad many a time to sleep wi' the cannon dirlin' aboot them Y^ get us'd to-t, as Annapla says aboot be°n' a weedow woman. And if ye Le noticed it, Coont. there^ nae people mair adapted for fechtin' under dif feecufties than oor ain; that's what maks the Scots he finest sogers in the warld. It's the build o' them. Lowlan- or Hielan'. the breed o' ther^ • tho dour hard character o' their countrv nnT f i, • mainner o' leevin'. We gied the EnZh . fl 'I the .Porty-five,- didnae I? Thaf "wtlheS^h "Yon^H '"=."""' ^^T'' "^^thin- like us?" You do not speak like a Highlander " said tSb^°"' '"''"^ ^""-^ °^ *his lasconad^ u^;^ " No. I'm no' exactly a'thegether a Hielan'man •• Mungo admitted "tho'ugh I^ae freends con„ekit o speakin . i the tail o' Doom, as I was i' the tail o' ^ DOOM CASTLE. his faither afore him— oearo wi' k.~ «. grand soger I— but h;»W , ""r' ^^ ^" 'he them thefr scuds it"he •F„°rt'„V'*^"t ^« S'^^ ments. sir. a' the w^,^'''owe^°^^;^r,«-: .Scots regi- whaur's tlie bate o- tL ? 'i? ^iS" ^'" '^""''t'y. ca't?" ""^ ^*''^« Ecossay, as they higher tiian his wafit m?X' I '" ' '"""^ '^^'^e "o as sutler or groomTn a ' m-^''- '^'" ?°'"« ^"'« "Afa /m/ " K„ campaignmi; regiment. resti^ned from the mtrn'^l- r'' ^'' ^"^P"''« for the littlP «,,„? ?^' delicate considerations the ;ars?" "^"' ^""'""S^' "^ave you been "n haJrTsenT^f'^ ^ home-thrust to Mungo. He staldir'over'theTsh w!th',''T^^^l'?f'°' ^"-^ «"' knife in his hands th.T horn-h.lted gutting- occupation and he had nThT ^^"^uine^ with h% •nadi^a flourish o^he knifla. -f If ''« deling. ?'thegetherX 'ye m'icKK the'^^^'-T ^'l* .n a mainner o' si^ato' gW nea^'t tT^^ ^°"^'' oot wi> BalmerinoryemlyhaeLLf.f ".""'•'' h<.r,> hi i* J V '" *he height o' mv heels"— here he stood upon his toes-" i Wd hae^en in the UUKGO BOYD. 49 airmy myseP. It's the only > mploy for a man : in Mungo . •m spunk, and there tellin' ye I " " It is the most obvious thing in the world, good Mungo, said Montaiglon, smiling. "You evisiier- ate fish with the gusto of a gladiator." And then an odd thing happened to relieve Mungo s embarrassment and end incontinent his garrulity. Floating on the air round the bulge of tne turret came a strain of song in a woman's voice, not powerful but rich and sweet, young in its accent, the words maudrble but the air startling to Count Victor, who heard no more than half a bar before he had realised that it was the unfinished melody of the nocturnal flageolet. Before he could comment upon so unexpected and surprising a phenomenon, Mungo had dropped his gutting-knife, and made with sus- picious rapidity for the entrance of the castle, with- out a word of explanation or leave-taking. " I become decidedly interested in Annapla," said Montaiglon to himself, witnessing this odd retreat, and my host gives me no opportunity of payine my homages. Malediction! It cannot be a v/ife; Bethune said nothing of a wife, and then M. le Baron himself spoke of himself as a widower. A domestic, doubtless; that will more naturally ac- count for the ancient fishmonger's fleet retirement. He goes to chide the erring abigail. Or— or— or the cunning wretch ! " continued Montaiglon with new meaning in his eyes, "he is perhaps the essential lover. Let the Baron at breakfast elucidate the mystery." But the Baron at breakfast said never a word of the domestic economy of his fortalice. As they sat over a frugal meal of oat porridge, the poached fish, and a smoky high-flavoured mutton ham whose his- tory the Count was happy not to know, his host's conversation was either upon Paris, where he had spent some months of sad expatriation, yawning at its gaiety (it seemed) and longing for the woods of 50 ''OOM CASTLE. S'ToUTe a;'" f"^ °' '"« ««"=" for the spy tion, he m^ant, it aDDe/rln , '^'", °1" "^ the ques- n?ost plausible excKrremnJf-\'''\'=^^"'=«' and v>c nity of Argyirs^itfe "T '"*° '^e immediate make the acqSimanw of ,. „°" *°T P^^'"' to there as he could, then tolw^r"^ °^A^ P«°Pfe them, and push his affair^ol'conciS'"'" ™« situation. It's not Doom M 1^ knowledge of the not Doom down by there it^;?,?"""'":?'' "°' **'" o learn the outs and ?ns of Th'""""''"^'' ?''"=" law are about it. the one ab^ut J J' ^^^ *"'' '^e other, and if your DrimH,, t.^ numerous as the traitor on eitherhan^l^oDX*'A'\? '^^' '»' » a the king across the water taWntfh"''"^ ^' ^"" ''^ to as has happened brfore 'now he'i?'hl"°"'^°/ '^'«' roch you may waeer anH ^^^ t . "° Drimdar- there. Indeed, how could he ?f^*?.' ^^, *'«='' ^own body is the on ly Drir^Sarr^h [?' P^""° the writer and he has a erieve inTh/^ ^^^^ '* *" the fore, by-named Drfmdarr^h tjfc* ^° ^2!" "''"'' ""fs his bonnet over his F^en^h ir^ ^°'°&/hout cocking Have you any notfonfh,f i, ^fl''"'' his treasons? less liLly to^o*^"^J^* ''L'";" ^ '^l """^ o'the French g^ntleman^f you? maki?n'»h *''^' '^^'^'' ^ an a friend of Doom', t^„ u" l^^ country-side, h'te^ A daft errand ff I ,;,'^'"*='' "^^^"^ ajaco- needle in a havsteck LI f^^ f^^ '*; seeking a to it." "aystack was bairn's play comp^d findfheTeeS. ISTe Baro'^-'s^rj' you speedily fully- " In other words ?n,'=t '^ Montaiglon play- the prick of his pTesen' ^1™^ sensibility to*^f^l society. The fact'^l^at he -- "" ^^* *"*° ^'^ "»at he may suspect my object MONGO BOYD. -^ here will make him prick all the quicker and all the folk-half a hundred SL f ^u"^ t°"='''"K w'"' as this Drimdarroch ^ tMed r^""'^''.^*^"'--'! and just of hisvisaee oerLnr tt 1' ^"^ '" ^'^"s t°°. theni all seriatK^fowo'l^ldsa? !?*'''"*"«'=** prospect." wQuia say, I sec no great solth^^ilTe^ttlswratl'tf"^ '"""i 'T''^'' - to do when Bethune Mve mi ^T/^""^ '° '^ ""ble a landlord in the ^el/htouK"" '''•^"" ^^ *'''»* °^ condor of Ktaft^?>r'v' '*""" V* ""= -"-e-^ "IVeseen the day/'sa"d t ''"T °^ ""^ '^"''='^- they were throne enouthK~ ' "l *^*" '^e day that was only sf lon» f, u"^^'"^ *'^"' 0°°"'. but fair face and a nice hLm-"^^T** *° """b ^'th a that I'm a Uked Sd td^ Doom "^^^y- ^ow they never look the ?^ad I'm o^" " ^'"'"^ '"'''• angiy flare in his master's face "'^''""'^ ^' '»"= you'll take m^fSdTnd m'e" '.'"^ ^"°" '^ " P^^'^^P^ and he frowned wi?h m„l .^ ''*° y°"' «:°"fidence ; - little-abasheS retainer '*''^" °"" meaning at the the'cStSe'fa'c?[Slia' S ^o""«°' ^^"^ P^' "^ sense of drollery and ht ^T ?°J"^ uncontrollable violent than evT; ' "P'°'^='* '" '^"ghter more auSr'" '"'' '" ""''''' ■" ^•'^ -cent of ••MVn°g?r"titeSt"''.^"''^ *° ^"-t-- In the afmy ye wouW hi' ' ^w.'"^'^?'""«dfool ! good deal 41 RTght tut'te' '' '"^"^'^ '°^ ^ a^^:rKh^K^f-S---- s* DOOM CAITLB. peace oO FoTwh^s'hS/'j::''"""' V''°'''^ paucity of the visitora ?rom i, i^ *"'"**"^ ^"''e residence of Doom? Ao, ^jp"' court to the unable to conceaHUsconfus^nM' 'f'^'l "' « "">" occasional glance with ,^?.^?' '^°"«'"K.'on stole an irresistibly. '"' »»*P":"on growing on him where Balhald ™ wrth fhTk^ ?''* '^"^i'?' '" Prance. gameofcardsrk^pTtetter fh'" '^''"'''" ''^"'^ "* « -U?ir &~MX^eS selUnd D^fmd^-H°4rro£t?Str'' ^'-^ play^Xr "bV ;^Tar °.?*C*'^^^^^^ the Baron'f histo.!?as brieflv knr^°' ^f^^^'"' ^^'^ inexplicable signa7and alarm o??r '"iT' ^"'^ "^ " Yniir M-j ' • !. ^*rm ot the night. tranc'[^g^S^s^°S^e air?'%^r^ 1° »- ^" - revelation. ''^ *'"'y' ^^^''ng h's way to a prelend^e"""' '" '"''' "'''''"ction. scarcely half com- a;S;Sfi;:?|^<^:i^|^-idp. and never soniri:,°';;>7s^tm\^°""* =;''"' '"^ ^- clandestine meetings at midn1^hr"^.r ^""^ ''^^ MUNOO BOYD. 53 indicate that if here ■< n^. i .l • events is some hinrmoJethln^""""' ''*'« "» «" face. Tonncru de^Z, '^""k."*"""' "P°" *'"= »"'■ the whole breed of mo„n»,: ^'^""J" suspicious of about last niBht°s a7arm- h',r- ^""^ ""^ » ^°'^ courtesy, demands s^m^ V '"^^'y- '" common whose S'eep Ts marrfd^- «P''""'»'°" «° the guest the knowledge^of the^mtle V''^ ''"^ '='""^' ^'^out of Doom, and the verv *l,r'"'"""'*y°'' "'«' """'h where the Count had Xonn.^ fjmong the bracken feather; the rain of the Pmnrn^" k"^ «vealed no every trace. He stood u.^n.h"« ^'"^ obliterated he had fired at the luckC fl^'^ "P"* ^l'^"" with the same thrill of nli,'''*'' '""^ "^«°«d, ?f mystery Tnd of dreadXf 'h"T".; ""^ '"'"^ him as he stole the div biforl ^f* ''l!"« '"""'' woods to the sound of ?n,cK ,*''™"«^'' voiceless shore. He ^raeain fh- k ^J''^^'"=" °" « foreign wind as if a Kwas hLh^f"''^ "'^A^ ««!« air of in him-not th" Sk tfh ""l^^J P-'i^'"' '«« early and remote.To^ "in "ands'of'^,'^ °^ ""*."«• omen n dim-DeoDled an^ f . •°'^ silence and of verge of clamKlas "'*"'*"= *°°^= "P"" 'h* host'''"^;,n?decidSvLfr' '^^'"^ '° "•'^ Conde. I would cite a .r. ''7^^^ '" "" R" -oment of the bufJle o'f PaS" °' '°"'^ ""'"^ ^^ '^ An^ K E'*^^ y°" ' " s«d Doom, game'of ti^l^Lr ' '° ''^ "^"^ *° P'^V ^ -'emn 54 u CHAPTER VII. THE BAY OF THE BOAR's HEAD. what he knew TMacdon ° ,^?L^'S: °n who, fr°'" Balhaldie, and the ot£s "^f° .f ^^del. Macleod. Pans, had looked for a roystelr in no"= ^?"S '" a man w th stranr^ ,„«r u ,• " ^oom. It was with a ludicrous decorum f^^^^^^^^ ""^ ^?""'^ there tion, rising re^l^lv on hi l*'^'""'?" "'^ '^'^ '^ondi' retiring early to h^ch^"^,-^"'"'' " ^^^"'^- ^"d no companyCh he Sh' ''•" ^P?^^=«nt, keeping pould not eWn preten^to eZ/"*^ il""^" ''"'^^"^^ ^f '"S his days among a scorT of h. ^."' •'*^i"' P^^^" some (as the Sieur de GuIhm ;„ p ""i.^ '" English, Cible in the Irish letter and " ^T''^'''"^ * Bedel lessly about the shore lA.f ^ °I^^" ^^"'■ng aim- and rehearsing to hmierf;".!-^''^!""^ "' '^^ hiM^. account native women th.^"'^ ^^^^^^ that eve^ the most beau'tl^urL" Kcr^S ''h^^™^ "'i'^ 'ast man to look to fnr =,;h ■ ^^ ^^^ the Montaiglon's- if hp h^ ^ '" ^" enterprise like seemed^irjas 2y t'o^^courfthl" '""'^'^'f '* hour or two of his ;" "'^'^o^rage the same, and an .nust h rhis°'sj;%3r *^"^'* ^'•^ ^-"t h" orfncVnt&cf Ift/l^^/P^tht^ "d'^'^ '^f — enterprise altogether ah Jnff u ' '^,''>' ^^ '<=ast an THE BAY OF THE BOAR's HEAD. 55 Iff to feLSe'a' Mon'/'^S^* ^°"'^"- « "-- went rn„n^ a^ence in the afternoon. Count Victor must ?e drenchfd wth trad!tl°''r'y'"°^^^ window had looked unnnhrJf"' '^''"^ ^^^O' worth re-telHne nnfhfn '^ histories innumerable in hand! ^' '^'"^ "^^^ "^^^^^^d °f the matter in &o:°:sTk: iiT^f tt^r^ ""TT^'^' ^- and the lady of sonL th-- ^'°° ^^ °* ^""6° unoccupied/ani "e^ i^'l^^ela" hlbitld^^ ""^"^^ woman" *tlldr'^ttrh^^^* "° "^'r ^-- °f the was in the womTn h^souglt'^ kefto'at^. '°' -"* little mystery. He m.,=t t^ Key to all Doom's climb to hi7ownSw • °.T^"'' the window, then it was no°tTfuK: "ew heTad'b'?' T" shortened glance at the «M»^rv had Jjut a fore- any more VaiirnVlLre'^mfgh "' ''h?^'' '' Hf:ji.s;>s^;rr-pSs?dSi^^^^^^^^^^^^^ ridor on the half laS k '"T'' °^ t''^* '^o'"- blown out without as .^?ri '^*'"^ his candle had breeding mTght permit A / '"1!^'"^ ^^ &°°'J- closed. ^ P "• ^""^ °°thmg was dis- outtrs T?asks * t 'roV*'""^'? *f'"^ •" *he half-do.en mou.^fi P^ultrngS'^SS^fn tt 56 DOOM CASTLE. table-cloth to the breL. r^ •°'' J''^' shaking a and rurainatinK maste^^^A f^ '"J''= ^''"' the dfrk rebuilding the^pTst fn thl ^'2^ ^L^ melancholy by looking ^ith peCe"satSa.7l'fr °' l^' «^^' °^ upon the coast, a boS uDon h./u" ^is window Doom as Count Victor w^f ? ^nee-that was He began at last fo ^^^P^TP'^ed to know it. believe tiat what he had Wh'"' !t"^^?' ^"'l half arrival had been some ch?mera°" ^^ ^'^''' °^ ^'' Sir"^ -P-^"ed mt^nnlc^euSm'^dl! osfeutXtLrdfofTi^r^-^rr ^^'^ ^^^^^^ to h mself as one who knows th^°r"^''°'''; ^"<^ ""^^ Plan's pxying. MontarglorcIthS ^°' t ^"°*'''- his chagrin at its irony iasW^n^V^ that smile once: delusion that the frank and !?1 5"*'' ^ ?'««■"& ' proffer a solution i"t, ■nHT\'^°"'"'''<= '"'ght But he was soon undeceTvld fc*-" questioning, knew but three thingsTn thi^ i u"".^^* '^'^"^'■ of war the ancient Tptendourof^hilr"'" ?^"'»«« and the excellent art of absen? m? .4^"'^ of Doom, •t came to the contents of D^'rT M "^"^'?i ^hen an oyster. ' "°°'"' Mungo Boyd was !tsdi;.'??"^i5ro„t%^P!re^.-- importance in mg walls and the brokentm'bSs"" '' '''' *°"- witht^'rSSU^trm^^^'-T'^-^^^ mourning its decline ^"* ^^o he had been have^ha^he honou^'^^s^e'S^' 1"^'' °/ '* ^ ' stages were habitable •- aAd r ' "'»^".*he upper taJly cursed his luck that he m„ *S°""' ^"^t""- men- witted scullion. ^^ """^^ '^"'^e with a blunt- " Oh av' I'll -ilU' !• that's whit ye mean bu^if T '' '^°'- '''^ ^'^P^Y- if "rBunedin,it.sst.ll\ii-/°^-D-hj;o„ THE BAY OF THE BOAR's HEAD. 57 nSg!" "^'='' ^^ '"^ '-ddie said that found the Its capitulationVas due to so s iX''%^- ^°y'^ ? Playmg of a trumpet or two " ^ ^ ^'""^ *^ '^e curt,y,''^^.t?„ShV'ri"rK -i'^ ^-^° interrogator. amcfe /)«Hs«e ,„ the ha;^ot%^;?e'rrch°ed to'th'^"'*^ 't"'' ' ?- tiveinstrufenl I'ssure'Jou,-''' "^^eolet-a seduc- thSs t-sTghtrlrofr",- -Annapla said he, " but it'll hae t„ nN ^ 1 ^''°°* ^O"™." Count Victor, coolly dem.-sem.-quaver," said Mungo."^'"' '••'^^•' ^ t°W them that!" muttered " Pardon ! " and^ m'at^i,:f'[^f• ''"ots "°° -^ '"-, and- who? to^pa^stlRftnC^'^ 'T S^"' ^-^o^. Finland highway. He ir"l.^^'''"g °" the the little hamlet he JnAr, u°}^^ ^°"th through the day; and as thelfuTof fh ^'""^^'^ ^^"^rfn him increasingly the farther f, ^ 'finery allured self at last on a horn^f th ' ""^"^'u^ '^"""'^ him- Duke's seat lay sheltered h^f ^-f* ^? ^here the AshehadwalkKthfplaciL"h h'"^ '^'"P^^^- where yesterday had been fn . '"* "°'"=^'* that fleet of fishing-Latsscu,^v1L^P*^K''^ -^ "°w a setting out upln their S^g^j^^i^-^ -« I-d, spec acle ; and that on either side of ^ heartening squalid huts of Doom were WiinH '"~^"'=" ^^^ dam y country with cultivated fieWs^lll f ""T and so he was not wholly unprepared foTlU'^S 1 5" DOOM CASTLE. f^i7fh''''^l!='? ^''f'ii'^ *"™^<1 *he point of land that hid the pohcies of MacCailen Mor. But yet the sight somewhat stunned. In all his notions of Dnmdarroch's habitation, since he had from th'. T"'^' i?^"'' ^^ ^^'^ taken h?s idea l^^ I !?"°"> ^"^''^ splendour, and had ludi- crously underestimated the importance of Arevll's court and the difficulty of finding his man Sad of a bleak bare country-side, with the ducal "eat a mean tower in the midst of it, he saw a wide exo^nse of thickly wooded and inhabitable counTj specWed for miles with comfortable dwellings, the castfe hself a high embattled structure, clustUd round by a town of some dirpensions, and at its foot a harI>our ctuds.'"' """'' """'"■™' """^ "^°^^ rose upTn Here was, plainly, a different society from Doom • here was something of what the exiled chiefs h"d bragged of in their cups. The Baron had suggested no "lore than a dozen of cadets about the place Grand D,eu ! there must be a regiment in and about this haughty palace with its black and yellow banner streaming m the wind, and to seek Drh^darroch tal7Jtlr;^er ''-^-'^'^•^o-hood seemeTS a ttVs^dii^Stir'^t-^h^ ooked all the more savage and inhospitable in con b^fclTM''^ lordly domicile he had*^ seen What n!!f ^^'.T l*"?""^ ?" ^'^ ^«'"™ ^as so odd and unex fnterestrthe s^^ '^"^'^ ''^ "■"' ^^^'" °^ ^^^ 39 CHAPTER VIII. AN APPARITION. The tide in his absence had come in arnnnH n,„ a';?wVrln^wt''„\X 'th'elitfc^^^ Jt was to look who calleiS^lrr bLTCth 'a punctiho '""^JT^"'"^ ^y ""y ^="^^ °f g"" son punctilio. He was not lone eone hut ,.,!,„„ u came down again to the boa't C preparaSns for crossing took up an unconscionable time!™? the was to"lnd!''t''' * ^^T^d-and then a thole- S was to find; when launched the craft must t X her bow unaccountably and awkwardly i"the wcxds Coun? vTctorTad'to.?"""^"' '?-gh\is sahte t v^uunt victor had lost none of its formnlitv H "«»«ftob. th, tally., M.„d iiSi'Var^ s/s-iS-si^-HsEiS ful in Its outer aspect; not for domestic DcacHf seemed, but for dark exploits. The glotS^y si houette against the drab sky rose inconcS^ till.' 6o DOOM CASTLE. me by Inotr'oufe " °a„t h^'"' /' ""'' ^°'^^ "^fo" the r4ht si&ttVaut '^vfp^C^^^^ darkness made irfpntit,, ._ S'".^ P"sage. But the the recognWo'n of h^Jf^if'^' ^«'' h« waited was brushed oast as hv i "ever ca„e. He greeting or qu«t o^ ^y a so^„3^t,„j,^j_ ^.^^^ other in "\,^"^"'°"' though to accomplish it the apparition s4t^ ht^with sL:ir'''S*''* '".*''* sion. It was as if h.T=5 ^"'^P"^^ and apprehen- was as If he had encountered something AM APPARITION. «_ materiff way. When h A '« X*" "°' t^^'fic 'n a on the stair? ooWnrdowS /if ''°°9 ^P^^-^^less troubled with amafemer M? P^ P''°f?"nd black, the suspicions thTrhad kh ?L'^^&''T A" signal-calls rose below the turret IM'' ^''''^ opened and the flaceolet h J nft u^^ *J^* *'°°'' ^ad came back trhim more ,fnui *"'^'' •>'' slumbers, than before. He lisTenldtnth'' i"°f.^<=°n'Pe'ling ofthat silent mysterl "?^Ls~r ff^'l'T^ ^°'''^" a door creaked, no m^r^ th^ h^t an^'*^. "J'^"'^*' was wildly disturbin? evVrf^^ ' ** >'**,*''« ^^ect Ao his chest ; then his sen.^^f ^ ^^' ^"'* ''"'^^ ""t and he kughed at the wf TT^*" '^^'"^ *" bim. But he didtt k^V tL^SodVn'g ''^^"^•'^«°-' pitall^T^o:ttth^"S„V* V ^ ''- he re/ected. "AiTd Irand v^.°T%' absence." une something for the thriH of V ^ °'^*' ^*"'- has introduce! me to Now comSfTT t affection of those weeping e^Tes for Z^''^"*^ Z^" and commonplace life of Pr^^rl J """? P'^" think so indifferent a en, nfl," ^^^^ P""^^^ to they have left beZd. A wee^oSr^. ^'^ '^'^ drive me to desoa^r t^ *^ *bese ghosts would II 62 DOOM CASTLE. yet unable to think how he was to better his rnn^! dr,?„^H°"' "'\*''^ °' '"e host whose mysterfes 3tn^i:^CT£^.-S Me ;:^„:e s^j^^^^ as to the nature of his mission. It was tLt h^ had Gaehc chiefs, debarred from fighting " the whole some old manner with the sword, induged their' contestful passions, and he presented firet of all a mfr'*?' Ih* ^°""* Victor'^in his most hoi moments had never allowed for-he did notTnow theidentity of the man sought for, and he questioned f It could easily be established. AH these considil! .ons determined Count Victor up^n aTimmSe' r^nl; -J u*"^? ^^ J°"'«'^ 'Doom in the salle he non?of K-** •"' ^'^*"'"^* *° '^ <=»"■» «s«"e. showing none of his emotions. ="uwiiig f„^,\'°"°'^ the Barn, seated by the fire, and ready ?a Ws"VaUl?~'^ '"""^ but^bstracted int'S ,"y^i}: Count," said he, "ye've seen the castle ° *>"' A^'5^ ?' **'^ "'^l^'''^. as we cM hfm hive yo. ? And what think ye of MacCailen's quarters ?" Montaiglon ounged to a chair, threw a careless glance at his interrogator, pulled the ever uS? moustache, and calmly confessed them charming.^ ..-rt, • /""''e.came on the face of his host They might well be that," said he. "There's many a picking there." And then he became garrulous upon the tale of his house and Sy AN APPARITION. 63 a''ce„t!r^l^°a''rif''ZfW ''^ "-'^fortune for of these^lush glens the ih'^u"*""? °"'=« ""^ny bens. the,horefTih2\„^X ,oas°/ ^Bifh^^? that ancient patrimony had sloulhedoffln ''^ •"' generations, lost to lust fn ih« ?. '? ^"ccessive spendthrift-; weakness ** gambler's folly, the about the world MWiM^ • "' ^ V^S*" of ambling you and life - niy „^nd^"^ "^"5 '^ '^'■"='' ''«t^een old age took Z,Tck from T"^ '°- '?" '' ^^en Faith I I wish Ihadth^.i '"^8f="et>es abroad. I may. Airs here I Iv^ ^"^^*° ^° '* '^"e'" than tasted it Zwherl too r^*"'"** °^ "^"' ^"^^ ^ have my own peop^^ about%.e LnTi? "^ '?:?"l^'«« ="«» day indeed ffom the ri^e of flJ' '*°"J-^, ^ * ''*'°rt a short day and a hannv \, r*"u" *'" Bedtime- Week or t^a? homf fo wS ^oun'd th^'' ^•''" ", Strone where you were tn H^f j^ . *''* PO'"' of and gabberts In t^e L!rt1f^ and look at tiie skiffs never^ailed to put fro^c in the W^' ^'"''f '^' '^^^' he saw a lieht m.t tul, J ^ .'''ood of hrm. If outbold,fe would stan^^^^^^ °' ^ ^»''P at the wiAdow Sat ng onTt T T •"' "'sht-sar^ I'ght gave n,e Llf th^sat sfactln o'fTh;"" '^^^■ star coming up above the wil A°dno." ^' '"'"'"^ notS; da;T«;at W^oTt/?"-" *°-'"°-- - « «. "»J'.,inats my consolation in ov^r,, trial." so muckle"i";rsfac"tio7rn"it •"^' '■°«y-fiv^'ther;S symSfthSsSietLri ""'Tl'- •" ^P'^^ °f 'he host's naSelTtSou^P* him away into his at intervals. Wth an ev^/T^ ''''='' ^"<1 back before him, he^Kftrwharthi?.°" /.''' ""^^^ concealing. Was L ifl^fT^ ^ gentleman was K- was He plotting something? And ^ DOOM CASTLH. music, the ironic iS^r T."if""> "« "'dnight Possibly L unaware o" the ian™"!*" ^?""''«' his house, of what signalled bvT '"'Pp"'"S» in stairs at night ? To ont !♦ i,- ^ ''^^ "."'' «=«?« on was the last man in the worM »" ^'"'™ "« "'«''^=' ^e thrilling moment of » n h '^ '° **s«:"'te with the met the^mar^el on the st,^?" ^^o^^^'^ Montaiglon Drimdarroch-s treacEUTnaThi. ^T ^'='=°"e'='i°ns of himself that it was nnf^l. *''^ admission of Doom made him hopde s „ ?ead°W fh" ."^""^ the chiefs, and he turned toTookab^""^ '''='' '"T"'^hle face to what he found nwhere ehf "^"^ ^°' '°'^^ ^'"^ nothi„the?e^o''tl;. v°im"?rrr."«=- --ed antlered stag-heads unon thl ,f '"*'°"- ^he few dusty; the ftrip of a^a" t^f'^^T "?^nsy and draught of a wfndow only suffir^H 7'''^ '°'^">' '" ""e sordid nature of that once nrif»^^ accentuate the the half-curtained rece" 3 Sh°"'''?'"/'°'- And eared documents of thll!' " *'j^ *°'''=d and dog- all this tra^lSy of 5 £wS*''t'=^''^'"u^^°^''oi about. 6 uy 01 a downfallen house had come thafs'^left of w^at'we Eurnedt I'^'V^ °°°'"' "^^ law-pleas. We ha^ the ash ^hh'^k'^'"! ^"'^ ''°t warm hands." *"** *he others have finSlt'^t'Sffirf Its to^h" "^™'!^^ »>- 'Chilled back, the better^'^^rto see tV,r/'rf"?''5lrewit urn. ^ " ^° *^e that doleful cinerary "rrS! Trf^h r j^'^l^ ^'■°'" •»■= chair. that^Sj Et in^trruSi-s to'tT •""I''* ^' waflSfdelr' ^h: t"u„f.f - ^'^^^ -P^ protest ine (.ounts movements revealed a AN APPARITION. «5 Highland dagger concealed beneath onp nf tu Count Vict^r-jTorlf'isuspSon^""'''' "' "^^ '"' his face l"nH f''''^-^"'if 'i!^' '"^d blushed acols Eyttrp;ofut£e's"S'„%h^ih'erhT^^^^ mountain dagger. M le R^r^^^ '^^ •'"'.* °^ ^ temVyr£ Ml&rrs^b^e^teXT'c^^^^^^ whose owner affected to loolc upon the garb of hf^ ^fthat„,stSr4-J^^ Sn '^ P^"°Pu'y ^Sainst the law, and the me„-thi 66 DOOM CASTLE. it down again on Ihetabk"' ^' "'~'^" "" ''« '»•'> n,in?Udiy'::rij.^„rnr'''^'°/' j^^^ -»" "i* discoveries from herrand ?» f*^* "^ Pf ?hing my •hould involve vou7n ml ^ 'f *'*° ""'air that 1 better be conduced ho7 it''T'"'t *'"'* P""^ ""-^h brelttd\°irhKcel^So1i;^^^ " ^" - '» this moment no man in »k- H"'<-Kiy , out there is at '^ '.rt^'?H^ Y? "^ ttrdta;.""'' '^ -- a qnick i2:i\ oS'Jmtori'o.'""^^ ^'^r'y °f than from here T have h?»r^ ll?!'"^ '" *''« '°-" French fish dealers and m»t^K V"" """^ ^""l then for ba„er to this coas? and!^""*" '°'"^*'""'« «=»"«' "Thel^fouTi ^IrceriaJ'^'' over Doom's face. M. le Count?" «1dS ^"^ ^" '^ *"'' '»«r<=l'ant. said^Doom" ^i'kep? bl" f "'^^^^' ^""""^ *»»"=." attainments. Bu^ it ^iM |oTh^7" °^ ^''""y ''»d there without feme iiT^rir.*^ ^°'' T'i'" &° <1°W" speak of your com.W '^^*'°?-„ ^ ^h^" have to good time." ^ '° ^""^ ^"ll' and see if it is a afeiS"*SM?nS'^:;H 1' ^?"*^ *''*' I am in «iu Montaiglon, and the thmg was settled. 67 HAJTI .i/irpED. It was only at •'. >| w,, , , .i n.ght itselfl-and aUve all in 'k «''?*"''"»?. or in castle of Doom had its tiZ ^^ "'»''«-that the of midday, as CounI v!^^ "^I^*- ^n the sun the morro^; of a St wTnTV"^'^ ■'"'"'"^'f "" almost cheerful, and from the "T' '' J=°"'d ^ sometimes somethinK to X let ^'*vl'"^ *''«'■«' '^^ human kind upon ?h^e higWay on""tt'"I."'^* °^'' A solitary land, but in »);» k "t 'hore. were passing to and fri^blJ^eJnT ''"'i" P^°P''= the ducal seat and the nn^K m *"^ entrances to of vagrants from the hS's o^Tl"""^ *''^" ^^'"''^ high Rest where Wade'f Li it"'''°^ """^ the clouds would pass with litfle •*"' """""K the hospitality of D.^^ wh^ Z "Z ''Pp^ *° the now and then rusHw in r^ hP°!;^''>'u '''^y ''"'^w; upon the gravel, made for^he?^"' ^^^"^ '^« ^are times singing as thev went f fn f k °'^" ""^''«*' «>•"«- even in airs^nfaS and i hn ' '""'"^"'y ^°'«*. guttural, gave to Coum vfctor In °"l^^ ^I'V^^^ ^"^ •n another and a warmer u„h "'^^ °f °W mirth rough short ponies ^on^ei^"^ •*^^" P"^^^ °" caleche roof Lung' on the rSt'ten' ^"J' " ^^^* company of red-coft ^ld ery ^ot1ike°''^' ,°°"" ^ glory across the afternoon m^?- . ^ S^leam of of a fife and drum ' ""'"^ '° the melody For the latter Mungo had a sour explanation. 1 68 DOOM CASTLE. They were coihe, it seemed, to attend a trial for murder. A clansman of the Duke's and a far-out cousm (m the Highland manner of speaking) had been shot dead m the country of Appin ; the sus- pected assassin, a Stewart of course, was on trial ; the blood of famihes and factions was hot over the business, and the Government was sending its cried Count Victor. •'Oh ay ! " Mungo acquiesced, " but that doesna' maitter; the puir cratur is as guid as scragged. The tows aboot his thrapple and kittlin* him al- ready, 1 11 warrant, for his name's Stewart, and in this place I would sooner be ca'd Beelzebub : I'd ha e a better chance o' my life if I found mysel' in trouble wi' a Campbell jury to try me." Montaiglon watched this little body of military march along the road, with longing in his heart lor the brave and busy outside world they repre- sented. He watched them wistfully till they had disappeared round the horn of land he had stood on yesterday, and their fife and drum had altogether died upon the air of the afternoon. And turning, he found the Baron of Doom silent at his elbow, looking under his hat-brim at the road. "More trouble for the fesse checkey, Baron," said he. indicating the point whereto the troops had gone. Ihe unluckiest blazon on a coat," replied the castellan of Doom ; " trouble seems to be the part of every one who wears it. It's in a very unwholesome quarter when it comes into the boar's den " . "Boar's den ? " repeated Montaiglon interroga- "The head of the pig is his Grace's cognisance. Clan Diarmaid must have got it first by raiding in some Appin stye, as PetuUo my doer down-by says. He IS like most men of his trade, Petullo; he is ready to make his treasonable joke even against the TRAPPED. 6g wages of the Duke as well as my fees. I'm soinp down to transact some of the weary old buslnesf with h,m just now, and I'll hint at your coming A abou'^'^fi J "T"^ I ^°^ ^^^ """^^ ^l^"* wine than about fish, laughed Count Victor, "so it will be to"tL*^'"''^°"K''°"''l•'^ ^^^ *° ''ave been coming knied v^,'^"^'^''^" ^^I Macfarlanes attacked you! killed your horse, and chased you into my place has the virtue of being true in every paAicular without betraying that Bethune or f^en^ds^fp &; myself was in any part of it." aigl'on?^" ^^"^ '' ^°"'' ^tuteness," said Mont- The Baron was absent, as he had suggested was possible, all day The afternoon was spent by Count ^Lmed';;,nr'^"""T«'' ^"^•''°"' for^ven^Mungo seemed morose in his master's absence uerhan^ ZSe^i ''ytr'^'^f' nowleft to hisS^ in whlh 1,° *^"' °^ ^"^1'''"^ ^''"Pt the vast wLs in which his ancestors had shone with blindine K°"'rT'^ of the world beyond the confines "f £hT'* ^ ' T^ •"' '*°^^ °f reminiscence became exhausted, and Count Victor was left to his own resources Back again to his seat on the rock T went, and again to the survey of the mainlarTd that seemed so strangely different a clime from this where nothing dwelt but secrecy and decay. In the afternoon the traffic on the highway had ceased, for the burgh now held all of thTwide neighbourhood that had leisure, or any excuse of business to transact in the place Where "Veat event was happening. The few that moved in^e sun of ^rJ^^ 7u'^' ^'**'.'"'t °"e exception, bound for the streets; the exception nat .rally created some wonder on the part of Count Victor. 70 DOOM CASTLE. whT!lf^^ '^^' '" * *^"^«' •'"t little in the incident uuni victors determination to have don^ «,.m .W?he'd' ""''"''• ""'^,°'^ t° whe'the happen in^ 01 the day were more lucid. U,i'.„""'""'" ""i *«»" l»'l M relumed SSS-^- » ■'" -^ 'He'd sr.i'=iio'''^S7.fa^^?E back wi?h ^ "^^^ "°' P"^ '°"g ^hen he came dooLr;. '"""^" ^''° ^^^"'^'^ tiptoe into tte "That's the puir cratur." said he; "seekin" for TRAPPED. 7» S^S.^^^SeSiS^.^''^ -"-''•'*•'« '-tern woSr siiL;^;? j'-' ^^ ^"^ ^^--^-^ -" - heJrtf irfir/""\KP*'" ^^^ ^^"^^^ tumbling i„ «ev tJ. il" *\^ °"'^'" ^"^ees the ashes grew grey. The candles of coarse mould, stuck in a rudo sconce upon the wall above the mantelshelf, guttered |Sn]ttr^^-!;^--*ilS £^?tw^s-Vlaf-i?Si<^ and looked about him with some "rne of apj^' hension with the undescribable instinct of a m^n IptSu'r^'' ■ °''?"^1 "^y. 'y^' unsein? whoTas Hp D -."""»"«."% dangerous moment. He heard a voice outside. " M. le Baron," he concluded. " Late, but still in S rea:r-?°tn"dt* '° '''' T'' he 'rX/cllL" meet hlfwt ^i, ^^ ''°^. """^ ^^"^ downstairs to meet his host. The great door was ajar. He went into the open air. The garden was utter y da?k for cfouds obscured the stars, and the air wa^ laden wUh Th f-^"^ °'^°"'' °^^^^ ^"^"^ b^'ow high-water mark The tide was put. What he had expected was ^ see Mungo and his master, but behind the casde wher^ they should have been there was no one. and th^ Zr ^u^?"^ ^^'^ '^"'"^ fr°'" the side next he shore. He listened a little and took alarm for it was not one voke but the voices of severaCople he heard, and m the muffled whispers of men u^n's^me dishonest adventure. At once he recalled the mZ- farlanes and the surmise of Baron Doom that in two wfr th^r^h"'^''' "f "iy^^ '^'" slogan round the Tack to th^h "'■"^ *''f'i' """""y- "^ ^*" hastily h^H J ^ ^°"'^' V'^^y resumed the sword that the ^nr. i. '°'"',-;"''= ■"^'^ '° ''''" before, took up the more busincss-like pistol that had spoiled the .■.tsrKvngami^aiuam'vsae^€r^gii£ffiVj: 7a DOOM CASTLE. thrFnd nlfh^l ^' 'l«'"?nded as he passed round tne end of the house and saw dimly on the rock a group of men who had crossed u^ th" ebb'°*^His a 'r^^.T^'i(^'jy. '■ " -' '^^ company S^ w\^TeXt'h!7 I'h"*"^ '^'•'1?'* ^^^ ^'^^ °f the garden wiiere he had them at advantage. As he faced ma„°t*5^ assailants, by common consent, left one man to do his busmess. He was a large wel .bu«t S^'t'^ndV' '^'^Sht be judged in thejoom of the fi«t nf If- ♦"'*' ^""^^ '" Highland cfothes. The firet of his acts was to throw off a plaid that muffled fell tri^""^' *t^" ^^ ^"^PPe'J ^ f«til« pistol! and lultily "'^'^ •"' ''^°'^' ^^^ ^''■'=h he laid out ini'J.f f K ^"^ '' ''^^ impossible to make pretty figlit- mg of the encounter. The Frenchman ^w the (Sds UsZt Tr'^'^t' ^'?'' ^^^"^«'* the wlfaie^of fcis «ank; he lunged hurriedly through a poor guard W're^eatld' "'" ^""'^"^ ^" °^*''' -<1 ^oum Mmigo, with a blanched face, was trembling in the -trance, and a woman was shrieking upstairs The wnue tne other held a huge horse-p stol, looked like liZ-^^T '°, " "lu^geon.-something ^together ea^^ot^n th^.l^h° *.''" ^^i^"^'' ^hoiad tfe un- AnJtJ. I, •*?*' h '°"eht for his life in a prison hke ,o,^-^h""'''-^'°^' rang wildly through tKhi mnH '"^ '" ^ 'tory he had once read, with a ^h^wrn'd'' '""^'=^'^t«l. ^nd only to manLTher! self when du iger and mystery thr^tened. ♦,^k1-^^ '^°'"* '" ye come!" cried the servant h^ i'^ excessively till the flambeau sh^k bhil' It was time, indeed, to be in ; for the enemy leaped TRAPPED. 73 at the oak as Count Victor threw it back mjon its hinges rather dubious of the bars that were toTitt stand the weight without. ™" nn?J;f'f ''* "l^^^"" reassured, however : they were no light bars Mungo drew forth from theirlhLTek foot thTrHn' ''"' ^"^^ "^'='' iron-bound bS a foot thick that ran in no staples, but could them^ «aves secure the ponderous portals againstlmything less than an assault with cannon. <»"yining . It was obvious that the gentry outside knew th^ nature of this obstruction, for, finding the £rs o5^ they made no attempt to force the dcS)r. ' „th»;.ll"' *•>« Count and servant looked at each other s faces-the latter with astonishment and fe^ SrX'nJ'*" ^r^ ^.'?>n"nent danger of the castle. I wish to God he was here himsel'," said Muneo lad7'''«iH"1^ not prevent us comforting the the grain! ''*'"• '''^=^'°^ himself from " Let her alane ; let h-.r alane ! " cried the servant distracted y. following the Frenchman upstaiA Count Victor paid no heed : he was now determined to unveil a mysteiy that for all he knew m eh? menace himself in thfs household of string" midniS rn^'T\ P^ "'^^ of the woman came from fhe toTht'h "^^ guessed her chamber to occupy, and to this he hastened. But he had scarcely reached ««h/ f m' ''''^° the flambeau Mungo held wis proS H7t,°"*Lf"/ '^'^ efffctivelylhecked his progress. He turned for an explanation. U-n that draught ! " said Mungo testily, " it's blawn oot my licht." ^ ^^ount, but you must show me the way to this shrieking woman." ^ ''"'' „ "^A w***'" f ''* Mungo, "mind yer feet! " He to the passage where the woman's cries, a little less vehement, were still to be heard. " There ye are ! and muckle gude may it dae ye." He srxid, stopping at a door and pushing it open. Count Victor stepped into darkness, thrust lightly as he went by the servant's hand, and the door t:f Tlu \"'''='' ^^'""^ '>'"'• He was a prilon« ! He had the humour to laugh softly at the conven- tionality of the deception as he vainly felt in an empty room for a non-existing door-handle, and TRAPPED. 73 f&S.tpf dJ^t^^ci^^^^^^^^^ way after 1 Count that his acquaTntanee wi7h f '''T"'^^'^ the desired by the res?dems of D^^^. ^""=P'^ ""^^ "ot 76 CHAPTER X. SIM MACTAGGART, CHAMBERLAIN. On the roof of a high old church with as little archi- tectural elegance as a dry-stone barn, a bell jerked by a rope from the church-yard indicated the close association of law and the kirk by ringing a sort of triumphal peal to the procession of the judees between the court-room and the inn. Contestine with Its not too dulcet music blared forth the fan- Jare of two gorgeous trumpeters in scarlet and gold u'^]f 7!P' *'''' stockings, and huge cocked hats, who filled the street with a brassy melody that sug- gested Gabriel's stern and awful judgment-summons rather than gave lightness and rhythm to the feet of those who made up the procession. The procession Itself had some dreadful aspects and elements as well as others incongruous and comical. The humorous tancy might see something to smile at in the two grev- wigged bent old men in long scarlet coats who went in front of the trumpeters, prepared to clear the way If necessary (though a gust of shrewd wind would have blown them o«f their feet), by means of the long-poled halberts they carried ; but this impression of the farcical was modified by the nature of the body whereof they were the pioneers or advance guard. Sleek magistrates and councillors in unac- customed black suits and silver-buckled shoes, the provost ermined at their head, showed the way to the more actual, the more dignified embodiment of SIM MACTACGART, CHAMBERLAIN. 77 Stem Scots law. At least a score of wies were there from the Parliament House of EdinbZh, a score of the'^CoCs"'Af""«Si'-°'""'^ '2 "^"^P tfie'lobbfe'of tne Courts of Session, gathered the sand of the burgh street, and in their midst walked the rep°es^„! tatives of that old feudal law at lone-last osteSv abandoned, and of the common law o "heTaS cos^/ir'lK " ^""J"" equivalent for some Court costume, w.th a dark velvet coat, a ribbon of the Jnd for Th'" • '^"■''^"' ^ '^°'^ "P°" his haunch! likf fL \ " '"''y-'i" y"^ he carrW himself less hke the lawyer made at Utrecht -like Just ce- General and Extraordinary Lord of SeSon fK.,n and &'t1.'trH%"''°^^^^-^^ wfth^AfaXTou'gh Mv I V^l?u^ ^°' ^^^ "°"«e °f Hanover in 171s My Lords Elch.es and Kilkerran walked on ei[he; side of him-Kilkerran with the lack-lustre eye of devo?^"to"'J^?H'"?V*l''"f '*='''"• '^' ^*»<1'°»« -"o^list w^l fi!r *° /"'«^n'ght o'l. a ruddy, tall, sturdy man well fillmg the cnmson and white silk gwn ; Elchf^' a shrivelled atomy with a hirpling^walk, leaniS heavily upon a rattan, both with the sinister Wack tn-corne hats m their hands, and flanked by a com pany of musketeers. ' A great band of children lent the ludicrous ele- Us S'ee1fTha°tW fT'''"^''^ ^°"°"'"e ^ose upon r^,^V *=1t e ^ doggerel song to the tune of the trumpets; the populace stood at the close-mou hs or leaned over their windows looking at the SD^^aclp a'ltewaKo a^P°"'' ^'^^" '° ''' PunishOof a btewart who a few years ago would have been sent th.n ^^t'^u ^y ^'' ^'^"^ *'■"> "° """-e formamy than might have attended the sentence of a Wpper D;;:i:Ttmy;:r:'''"pp'"^ ^' ^'^ "-'^^ ^^ ^-^ (airbuf th^^n "",*^rt,^'"i"g the Lords, the Counsel (all but the convict's lawyers- a lot of disaffected /nn o'*f V,^''" '7*^ '^r'" ^"°'^ ^y then,soIve?urthe nn. and brusquely refused his Grnrn's ho=pitalitv) the magistracy, and .ome county friends, "to a late 78 DOOM CASTLE. of Doom, he woufd hnJL L!^**'^ °'. *''^ Poor^aron within S houTof tio^w^k"o7r^ '° "^"^ ''"«• luxuriant a domesticTv M,n, '' ? ""P^^'ng and his board, with ^veral !h- ''°^P^"X that sat about melody f?om a SL ^^ '"''"• * '"*« ''^^^thed a cla^.^„d?e5p5e5Tofs^SS^' 1 ^.^re^ - been to send dZn Xine from P^°l'''\S°"^ '''^^l trast ^ith the b'oad bur? Sheld 'h ' ^*'-?°?.<=?n- "and scarcely a day hXe vo„ H '^'' J"^'''^'^' footpad,, „i i, ,5, 2 ff ih. S f ."." ""»" •"•' SIM MACTAGGART, CHAMBERLAIN. 79 ^It'v!!..'"''"' "'"■ •'^'*''' ^'^ Ekhies. in spite of «am J» .r'^ saymg on the bench as to the good example this part of the country sets the rest of the H.ghfands-not the mids of oTd fashionrperhai but more prosaic, simply thefts indeed. ThatTsX I have had these troops brought here. It is re^rted^ tome prettjr circumstantially that some of the Appb Krt"o„'"v''"' '''y *° ^"'""Pt « rescue of Jam« Lltr™„« TU^'^y ^°,}^t P'»" °f execution at Lettermore. They would think nothing of attempt f L v°r I** '"' l^' ^'°''^^' '^' •''"gth of BenderSh. If only a law officer or two had him in charge." Argyll smiled. "You may rive us credif f^r willingness to take our share'^oAhe r s^bilg of keeping Appm in order," said he. '< I should ndt wonder if there are half a hundred claymores wkh Ml^Lnd '•''eh r^'^^V. ^""."l"" ol/bar^lckTS S?o" his iSam'Sn'. '"" '*' '"''""' '"^ ''^ aplie5ed'to'^"«^H^;*° ^ ''"'"^j" "^^ ^^^ gentleman appealed to and never a word more but a sudden ^Zu'^l^'^-'^i^" P'""" had miraculously gone fhe D^Jfe.^ '" '^^ """"""^ ^^ ^'"^ looked^^a? " Was't in your lands ? " asked Elchies, indifferent wher:'""v\^°et;tf dassefraieTh '" ^ ^"'"""^ anything bu? brisk. ^^ *''" '=°"^«'-satio„ « JZn'i' ^J** ^'■^y^' " '* *^^ '" I^o°«>. the place of a small landowner, Lamond, whose castle-it is but a ramshack e old bigging now-you may hive nodce^ a m^n"l ^f ^' 5'°" "^^ "'""I- La'"°"d himsdf's fh^f I ''k^'I* '?'* °^ ^°'^'"^«s for, though, to tell the truth, he has forced me into more litigfiion than a^vM^°"^^. *'' P^y '^"^ ^"<^ ^ had patience to take any lasting interest in." MICTOCOTY RESOLUTION TOT CHART (ANSI and FSO TEST CHART No. 2) \2B f2S ^ |||2.0 l£ S^l^ A >^PPLIED IIVMGE In, a^j 1653 East Main Strwat sKS ""(^hMter. New York 14609 USA r.^a; v/'S) 482 - 0300 - Phone aJIZ (''6) 288 -5989 -fox 8o DOOM CASTLE. PI " J**^ ?^M°" °^ ''^°°'"' 's tfiat the man ? " cried Elch.es. dnly. "Faith, I ken him well. Some years syne he was living months at a time in the Court of Session and eating and sleeping in John's fh J?h ^v^'*?""* *"" tale-it-s a gey old one-was that the litigation was always from the other side. I mind the man weel ; Baron he called himself, though If I mind right his title had never been confirmed by the king tn liberam baroniam. He had no civil nor criminal junsdiction. A black-avised man ; the last time he came before me— Mr PetuUo, ye were there -It was in a long-standing case o' multiplepoinding, and if I m no' mistaken, a place ca'd Drimadry o^ o'J^fead oV'*''"^ "'^ *''^*' ^''^"^^'* "^"-^^ PetuUo the writer, shrinking near the foot of the I .'"u^r adequate sense of his insignificance almost choked himself by gulping the whole glass of wme at his lips in his confusion, and broke into a perspiration at the attention of the company thus drawn to him. He squeaked back an unintelligible acquiescence ; and completed his own torture bv bre^ch"^ a compote of firuit upon his black knee- Opposite the unhappy lawyer sat a lady of extra- ordinaor beauty-a haughty, cold, supercilious sort of beauty remarkable mainly from the consciousness m=,rM if ^^>- Hf profile might have been cut from marble by a Greek; her neck and bust were perfect, in *w .? r\''' T^^ ^"Sular than was common in that time of bottle-shape, were carried somewhat too grandly for a gentle nature. The cruelty of her ^mlff 'f p^^'ff^^'^.•'*'^'^ '" ^ ^^'"t irrestrainable smile at Petullo's discomfiture, all the more cruel because his eyes were entreatingly on hers as he mopped up awkwardly the consequences of his gauchene. She smiled, but that was not the strangest part of her conduct, for at the same time she nudged with her knee the Chamberlain who sat next to her, and who had brought her into the room SIM MACTACGART, CHAMBERLAIN. 8i To cap the marvel, he showed no surprise, but took her hint with a conspirator's enforced composure. He looked at the little, dried-up, squeaking creature opposite, and— refused the lady the gratification of a smgle sign of the amusement she had apparently expected. She reddened, bit her nether lip, and " Your poor man of business is in a sore plight," she whispered, using the name Sim with significant freedom. " My dear Kate," said he quietly, " as God's my judge, I can find nothing to laugh at in the misery of a poor wretch like yon." " That's the second time I " she whispered with well-concealed ill-humour, a smile compelled upon her face but a serpent in her voice. " The second time ? " he repeated, lifting his eye- brows questioning, and always keeping a shoulder to her — a most chilly exterior. " Your ladyship is in the humour to give guesses." She gave a swift reply to some only half-heard remark by her next-hand neighbour, then whispered to him, " It's the second time you have been cruel to me to-day. You seem bent on making me un- happy, and It is not what you promised. Am I not looking nice ? " " My dear girl," said he calmly, " do you know I am not in the mood for making sport of an old fool to prove my kindness of heart to you." " To me, Sim I " she whispered, the serpent all gone from her voice, and a warm, dulcet, caressing accent in it, while her eyes were melting with dis- creetly veiled love. " And I plotted so much to get beside you." " That is the damned thing," he replied between his teeth, and smiling the while to some comment of his other neighbour, " you plot too much, my dear. I do not want to be unkind, but a little less plotting would become you more. I have no great liking for your husband, as you may guess; but there he's covered with compote and confusion, and for the 8a DOOM CASTLE. ins God's sa'ke do non^ok'T/me^as ]{ 1^2 "T '"' amusement at his trm.KL a J x, ^"^'■^'^ your Elchies by his elowerin^ ^"'' ^ "^ «"^e 'hat Mrs PetulJo cast fi-l^ '^"^Z?? ^^^ -"y Plum." object shewirboundfo bval*'''-^'" f '^' P°°' and money, and for a mL J„^ '"^/'^'^ge for position tion to the society of h^T °' ^^'t" «^^^ "° ^tten- was so suspiciou%f„ t'^rfitn?e^'"''-'^^^ -''° his^'s^^HitrodWtaa^ -'".°^ gravely to thfco™ erLtion tW "'' ^"k'* ■''" "^^^n^d romance in his present than f^"" "^rT^'^'y «"d pass for good loo^S h: hLTiutl th^£- f ""''""y the career and reputation thJf i^ '"?°'y ^'"l except the very wUest " H /», '"^" and women, have an attraction all,, nrf somewhat elderly had been stormy he h/d l°" ' ^°' ^'^ y""'" tremendous Srtune,^ "°'^"- ^'^^* '^^"gers, Lome) ; he was auX "PPaiea with the galley of punctilio, a frrtrate^'T'^ T. li^'^y^ P°"t« t° all a lover of his Wnd so tlf.?l *^"''^'' ^'"^ ^^^^ a smile (just touched a I,>?li k * ^^ "^^-"^ ^''°"t ^ith foralh *Vo tl^vrolVL"l^,1.PTaMer^"'=''°ly> most inte.-estine man tw»^!i lu , ^^ v,!ls the ~g :.e least^re„r/^rslSAr,tSS SIM MACTAGGART, CHAMBERLAIN 83 as much resentmpnt ,1 n, "-""^^"^^^t'on. and it was stiaction and hS monH «"""n°ns from his ab- to laugS at a wreS IL^ ^ S^"^«l disinclination the wrlVch's tife that "'f "^k"" '^^ ^'^'^'"'^e of PetuUo-s adta^es ToS),^!?' '° '"" *° ^rs posterously unending More ?hl'„""'' =^\"l^d pre- vent to his fob with ,„ " °"" '"s ''and his interest n fh» ""conscious response to difficulty he clencheHPl"''? ?^ '•*" *™« ! ^ith that foCldtrfoteS'smntatThe m^ ^^"".^ asrS2ir^^£sr^"fyr a%re"V'tt''^=^^^'"-"^^^^^^^^ Judges And tn'°r"'^"°" °^ ^''^ ^uke and The one on hi^ fef th. ""r^". I' '^'^ «''°"'der (thi fair-haled doli;^tha^',V r^ '^^ ^'°^°''' ^ ''«'« importance of hrr,it,tf^^-"^ appreciation of the and^a ha"l"frKLd Sdn"ss°at"df''"'* *=°''"P.^"y' Taggart) he seem^H m^, ? -^ ^° "^ar Mac- than ever MrsPpf nH "r*«"°"s and wonderful averted fece knew bv h J °^'"^ ^* ^'' ^^"■ his cold shoulder t&of he/h^^^"'-''' '^""'^"* fr°« rumour, though of ks existent. tS ""^-^ ""^""^ °^ able ground for d^ull^ '^'^'^ 4^Ted Vff? aT/^IL" 84 DOOM CASTLE. .nformed. by the Macfarlanes, whose anxiety to hush hon/J "A" "'^"^ P'°°^ t''^t 'hey were on no honest expedition when this happened. But an affair like that gets bruited abroad: it came to us from Cairndhu t^at the corpse of a MacfarTane was carried past in the gloaming*^ by some of his frienTs anxious to get it smuggled through Ardkingla" with as little public notice as possible." "^cia exteriora indicant inleriora secreta, to some- what misapply a well-kent maxim. The m Z^ show. I think, that it was a murder on theS of the robbers themselvss." It was Elchies who spoke, cracking filberts the while with hsg^ea? rhe°b:nch.'' *^^' ^^^^ •'™ - "-' - '-^ "Pon denlv'" X^"^' °^ ^^"^V" ^}^ "'^ Chamberlain sud- , h Jl'h f n ""^"^^^s shot by a French pistol," and details bn .T '•'" '^"" '". expectation^f further .< «/ .. T, ^^^^ ^^■'^ "°t forthcoming. Well, I m astonished to hear it, and I hone vou know where to lay hands on the hJmickie." sSd l[he rC^^u ?°"* °^ °^^ affair — nowadays," said the Chamberlain "And, forbye, I'm only tel ine a thl^ll'f' ^^"'■■/'i- T''^^^ "i'-y be no'more"^ i? than_the fancy of the Glen Fyne'folk who told me The Duke looked at his Chamberlain, saw that the topic, so far as he was concerned, was ended o??hS^t'? '^' ?"'=''^^a- Itwasn^tthecustom H;ih1,n? ' "i •'I' ^'*" ^''^ introduced into her l"dii*?nr '=°"'^,''« PL^<=tice of withdrawing the Indies for some time after dinner, and leavinl the men to their birling of the wine, as they phisldit Out she swept at her husband's signal whh her P°e3o"^r.^p''^ ^.*.'"'=^7' ^^l clarion^ M i'etuUo, the Provost's wife, and three or four of no greater importance to our stoiy-and of all that l^L^A ''.^'''"Irrhaps there was none but her husband, who, oddly enough (as people thought) for SIM MACTAGGART, CHAMBERLAIN. 85 cates. who bleared somewhat at fh« ^ "1?^ ^t""" rSfaSf 'Srcrt.? r." ^---"^ -on- to rearofll^^^nt'''°"^'u^<^'"S a dulcet second once the noisy disquisition round the board 86 DOOM CASTLE. Duke nlM,l»!i .""^f'^Sgart. m an aside to the for us we're W^u^"*^ l^^y "^^'^ '* *"• As w^^h"n uT anH *"'' \''^«r°" °f heather ale tiptoes, humming her refrain IT.f^"^ °"- ^1'= a Shade o1 ^ ^tS Z^^XT^I^ SIM MACTAGGART, CHAMBERLAIN. 87 garden path iotiidf^f'' """^ *''^' ^^' "hen the 88 CHAPTER XI. THE WOMAN AT THE WINDOW. awav''L^'thrnit'' o^Ik '•" r^r? '^mentation die away in the pit of the stair before he ceased to wonder at the sound and had fully realised ?heun! pleasantness of his own incarceration. It was ?he cries of the outer assault that roused h m from mere amazement to a comprehension of the daZ« in volved in his being tLs penned in a cefl f nd his" enemies kept at bay by ^me wooden bars and a ^™^Th ''""n- J^l ^'^' «'*•' questioning fiTgt.^ along the walls finding no crevice to sugglst out" air till he reached the window, and, alas! an eKa~ from a window at that height seemed ou? oW question without some machinery at hand ' to hiT'*" Th^.%""'^'!^"'' '''"Shter." said he to nim^lf The key of the mystery lies between him and this absurd Baron, and I be^n to wess at some hmg of complicity on the part of M. B^e"hune A maledic ion on the whole tribe of mountaineers The thing's hke a play; IVe seen far more improb ab 5 circumstances in a book. I am shot at in a coun ry reputed to be well-governed even to mino tony ; a sombre host puzzles, a far too frank domestk t^hh^'SerLra/" tif '"" '"''"?'^'>* vofcfs^m tnis internal hold ; the conventional lady of the drama is kept in the background with great care and just when I am on the ^i„t of meeting her thj perplexing servitor becomermy jailer. But yes it THE WOMAN AT THE WINDOW. 89 Cammercy suffering from one of old Jeanne's heavy into the little room witt the pink hangings." ' He raised the point of the sword to prick his finger more ,n a humorous mood than wi h any ffft « 'h * rl " ^'^ "" » ''«'"^. and dropjed 1^ bUde '* * ^""""y "''"°^ '='°"*°K °n the "Grand Dieul" said he softly, "I have oerhans mare, ai,d I cannot prick myself out of one." ^ 1 ne noise of the men outside rosj louder • a clpam t°h,i'l w ^"^'^ T"? *K*''" °f the chamber! sJm" thing wan and elusive, bewildering for a moment as f It were a ghost; from the clamo.r he could d is! tinguish sentences in a guttural tongue, ffe „rnld ^wi Lh'"'^°'^T**'^ counterpart of^the one in Ws own bedroom, but without a pane of glass fn it^ narrow spac.. Again the wan ^ag waved across the ^tC°'Tlf'''!:'^-*''^ "'^^ °f '»>« robbers came up to him. They hao set a torch flaring on the scene wild, a menacing illumination, deepening the black nessof the night beyond its influerce giv ng Hfe to lt?,fTu'''^'^u^"e"** "P°" '"ck and grass The light, held high by the man Count Victor had wounded now wrapped to his eyes in a pS rosj fn^ the'hr"'^'' ^°n?eti^es on t^e mainland, show! sef to «h r ^"'^ *•*; *■?•=• s°'^etimes upon the sea to show the wave, frothy from iis quarrel with the fissured rock, making it plain that Doom was a th^PgSltor!^! "P^"' ^^"""^-^ -*-' -t o^^m^ Viftor '^In'^*^?' ^''f ^^ °' ^°' ^^^ shore had Count HnnJ^ any interest ; his eyes were all for the wild band who camoured about the flambeau. They wore such a costume as he had quarrelled with on his o Thl;r*''7 T^ "^^ S'°y!" with something of theatrical effec':, and "Out with the gentleman! 5^ DOOM CASTLE. TEifJ!""'' '""'''' ""•'"•''"'" '"cy demanded the"scenr'^h'\'' if^ ""^ V^^ *'"'1°« ""d watched steaming water shot down uoon th.. ««! k out ai hf= P^rfo'-niance Count Victor leaned farthe? SarknesS As"hrd.r"^^'"°"' "J-servation in the ^ked him? 1°^ ^""P^y 'P'''^^'" ^ t°«<:h of vertigo h!nf *k " 'jj"'^, ^"^"y gathered round the torfh But'he dral^H K^^'r'' "''PP*'' '"t° their midst, out ne dragged back his senses. "We mii«t »l fh^' .'It ^t'P^"^' "''"* w« n«^d not be prSate about the business." and shut his eyes as he s c^d ga^n grip'of the' „T" ^''^'"-•din'g stretchK gain grip of the other window. Something fell THE WOMAN AT THE WINDOW. gj. fwm Tat fatrnnni •"'*■' •='^°'* '"' '«^'«1 himself irom mat late, and his senses, crown of a surfH^n A wild comrn"!''PP7'"« ""^ «"""y °f his attempt .,„^ i.^ "l'"S'!"K °^ commands and threats came up to h.m ; the night seemed something vast beyond all former estimates, a swinginR and giddv ho^Tr • he smglestar that peered through the rfcudt^i; LW^"''"#' ?P''^'°"' °f the'^evening heave^s^ S ''" '",'§'1' '"'^'= '^»"«"' but the matfri"1 more deadly, world he was accustomed to manifested hself for his relief and his salvation. ThrouXth7n;^M rang a pistol-shot, and the tell struck aelfnstfhe wall but an inch or two from his head ^ *''' „„»k: J.^""*'^*'?'" he said aloud. "There is nothing like a pifi," and his grasp upon the sWes of the Illuminated window was o tr^tro '' '°'- decay of Doom and J^^th^xT ^^.^^ed the common his Lps. hrm^dTL'S/donf thVS° "^•'i down the stair. It was a st^^Li '=°""^°'" and stair-foot *''^* '^°'"^^*"= ""^t him at the H^^T^r^ T'^'°S ''°t *»t«r in a huge kettle StrS'^'hrfrJhV' ""''' ^ startled tftti strok'^le'Te."'""' "' ' ^°°"*' ^^ -- g^ed me a ironiSy.^ "TforLPf^if?" ' '' "^^ ^"""^ Victor, not be tJken by Sse " ' "'" °'y°"' ^^^ ^'^""W ann^L-':^-^ -- -Je^ tone^ THE WOMAN AT THE WINDOW. 93 age my grandfaither was a serPPan* ;• *i and married for the fourth S'"* ' *''' "'™^' said°ciL^t vfctor'^Thf'"' *° """ '■" '^' Wood," did you mear;brioc£,^VuTth».' " ^"^^ SfarhTd^alST^^^^ so droll and futill that in c^V The action was tion. Count Victor h-.^/ ^F"^ "'^ '"^ mdigna- the h-tt°e domest^ thou.hT fV^°l '^'' ^^^«^^d ridicule implied ' ^ ^ '^'" '^''^S"" ^'t the ran-danand had picked vI„T'' .^"""^ °°* °" the oot o- its shelf Rsn^l^e L?f°°'" "''' " ^"^ the ordinar earrison ,^» i, '^ ^^ ^^^e ane o' o- veesitofll" °"' ^^ ^^" = ^^ ^^re jist a kin' •• w'hth' i^dy ' av? re'som"'" f ^ V^nt Victor, the defence." ^ '"""^ "**"«' interest in ye;i^"on Vs mafr Sfn f ^"' ^^ ^^^^ = ^^^ "oo scalded aff the r^ffues wi" h.f'^" f '°"'^- ^e ha'e to be keepit affi flThVe to h"^^*""' ^"f '^ *''^3''re kettle." ' ^^^ *° ^^ "nco &% wi' the his"ferd:?mS:' ".Yt'sL°uTd' h^"=*°v ?^r"^ lady's door as well as mine 'Ar , n ''^ '°'='^'^ ^''^ ^acKer.^.*'-^ ^-^'^^ .-'twrc-eS^rrt 94 DOOM CASTLE. '"Celtl'nn^'h .m""i5°' ^^"y "'"'=h disturbed, wav as if tr ^' ' i°°'"ng chapfallen up the stair- ^Ler. ^"-"^thing there behind his escaped nnvln^'* """^ ^°" '*''" Sive me the opportunity of ga^mg my respects to your no doSbt adorLfe iJ'i^^t " ^"^^, Mungo, incredulous. A elow came mife' %t ^hlt'w "!'''? ^^??* °' - mlschievo's ^T,., t,- 1 • . .. -i T'^y *•>« '^" 'ies ? Man, ve're a dour birkie! - said he; "but a wilfu' man maun hae his way, and, if naething less'U dae ye, list gane nn to yer am chaumer. and ye'll find her g ein' the Mac^ farlanes het punch wi' nae sugar till't " ViJtor W^^"*^"^^' '"f^^'y ^" ^"ig-na to Count Victor, but he understood enough to send him ud the tTT'^r "t^'^y '^^^ drove Mungo. in his ?ear Hn„r'li?°* ^"^''*''- "^^* *•>« °«"er he came L Ws fh the slower grew his ascent. At first he had ^.L r T^ "^ Baron's share in the dangerous mystery of Doom made him less scrupulous thfn he might otherwise have been as to the^propriety of a domestic's introduction to one apparently kent out of his way for reasons best known^to hisLsT^^and »Hv^nt ''"1/° the encounter in the mood of the adventurer, Mungo in his rear beholding it in his jaunty step, in the fingers that pulled and pLaked the moustachio. and drew forth a somewhat pW^ curl that looked well across a temple. But a morf sober mood overcame him before he had got to the ? ?i ^^^ jtair. The shouts of the besie|°ng partv outside had declined and finally died away -^ the immediate excitement of the adventure, wS wkh Mungo and the unknown lady he was prepared o w=./= "\\-^°"t .."" '^San to realise thatthere was something ludicrous in the incident that had kept him from making her acquaintance half^ ^Z^°'u.^''fj^^^^^ 'hat she might well ha^ some doubt of his courage and his chivalry. Eve^ THE WOMAN AT THE WINDOW. 55 impres'on'!"^"" """""^^ ^""^ ^'^ her a guij Jt was the very counsel to make a Montaiglon window •*h?'^; ^^°'"^n was busy at the open window, he stared in amazement and chagrin. CHAPTER XII. OMENS AND ALARMS. arms, stamped out Their"t„Jhf^M°'?'^ '"^h their a ribald threat and\v^« ,/° '^J^'^kness, shouted mainland A gentfelSn h?Ji"T''.".? ^y '^' ^lack lapsed from a W ron to tf m" '^'' ' ='"'' ''^^ ^^^ heed for the warXs "nd „rnt.°I ^ fl?' ^"^'^^ "° intrepidity was too lbv?n,,fl ' °f Mungo, whose tude and incaDahlP .f f ^"^ ""^"^^y '"ental atti- Count vfctor Ta lanln an"/ ""i'""^" '^^"g-". the night tha now held n„ "^^"^ °"* ^^^ain into who hid so noi^l7n,enaeed 7^"' "' *^%''^"'» silence on the sW =,n^ n , '^'^ ^^^ profound a silence the more sTnist.r K ^'""^ ^^^ coast- enemies. He went "ound ^h''^"'^ ?^°P'^<^ ''y his making a beam of yelfow hVh.^ castle his lantern the rain falling in ciW°.l^^!, ''^'^°^? '""'' showing beads upo3coat anZr?.l'r '^''/='**'^""e ■" ^i'ver of his weapon A wond^rf^';"^/""^" ^^^ channels of steel possessed hTm at S tll^!'''. ^"-^ ''^^^ ^^aft comrade faithful his^n I vfot ?"•''" V '* ^^"^^d a marvels and dreads • i^wL r^ ^^ '" *'' u" '=°""'n' of in hand; he spoke iotn't''?'"'^^' *? ''^^^ '* hknd as if it had fi%^L°f:fTiff-t--te. -cents suggested the dark comi^aSifand'^CouTaj OMENS AND ALARUS. 9f fr'y^l^^'^J^l ^•P""'' "^^'de the dyke-side where wo^fd mft*°2'='°'^ °" * ^'^""d homicide, which He weSir thi" n^'^"^ "^'=''" "- -"hid Therein! *{. ^^'.?^"' •'^ =*°°d in the bower. Strful-^rehn."!^"^"^^"- ^'"^ the desolation was »il, 1- • h'PS glowing cnmson on their stems the £ whh V*'''""J 'i^l^'' *•>« rustic w^dwork green with damp and the base growths of old anH mouldermg situations, the seat dicayed and broken eem^ST^'^ "* '*' ^^' "^ '^ f°' recent use 1"] Seh.^i!^r^'":!'S "•""•"« t° 't= hungry maw He held high the lantern, and to a woman at her Ijn'l^"- T'l"^ !•" hower seemedToXwlke a shell lit in the depths of troubled ocean. Hrswun^ K i'SJ"*: a footstep, that he did not hear waf checked m wonder. He came out, and instbct tofd !^dl/nro?KS. '"^ ^" th^de^kCnVtt "g«i est la?" he cried, forgettine aeain th* darkness spoke a footstep sounded in the 98 DOOM CASTLE. m One footstep. ulo^s^n'lirswoSlV'thTR* •*' '"^ «"^''« *-">■ darkness, his Cds behind H^'^k" ^T °"' "^ t^e bent, his visLe a min»iw f ' ^Z"^' •"" shoulders but he got no answer Doom came u""o ^tol"'""'"!,' peered at him as if hp ha/r k ^ "P *° """ and fiis cheek. Tomefig'fen'ranl^"::' ^u^^^^ "Pf." countenance that ehn„,=^ k- ? V°"bled m his capable o""klm LttTncl ''" '°' *''^ """"^"^ ■"- putt&irsU^iE ^r^nTflK- ^'^*°;' grotesque. teelmg his words " I took — I took you for- a wraith I f i r av.s,on," said the Won S/vei; He ?,'?1' v' 'l^yoXere 'L^er if ^"" " ^ -"" ' -^ S undJrsta^rr I tmV hZgTtL^'dS'i- T'*^ of pomp, from a crowded street from tk" ^'^^ and thriving, and above all he castle of hf^'r """^ flanng from foundation t„ « ine castle of his Grace murdfr wa^ done t * e dlv Jn tii' t" " ^T-"' *^°"^'' came through the rain S thi welZl ofii« " = ' all the race oTus knew rf^^c ""/J^^^^^^ ^ther and weather. Not a ifetT n^^ST^owe""" 'V''^ "''''^^* ga2 ng upward to the frownbg walil^ark'J?* °"' m the ran— "and thpn fk u ^'^'' S"stening shine to mind me-to I, n^ bower must out and my pardo"s"my re7retsT vo„'"'~f'l: *i°"t=^"Slon, a melancholy "osr^ ^°" '"""' ^ ""^ing me ies^y^^hoVTh*:°"coi.v;crof ?.^"^ ^'■•=*°^ -- bewildered him and h;= V / **"" '"^'^^' ''ai^ly mm. and his distress seemed poorly OMENS AND ALARMS. 99 UaZl!^f"t,^y hs explanation. "Ah. vicux -IhZL ''^.*t°"S5t, "can it be Balhaldie again -a humbug with no heart in his breast but an onion m h.s handkerchief?" And then he was ashamed fcxTr/pat? '^ "^^ - *-° ^«° "^ -"»' gone more than twenty minutes." ^ tn,r.^ft- *'jf Macfarlanes," cried Doom, every "Well U •'^ f^"f.*^.^^°.^d fo^ the first time well ? tin ?~rH f, ''^""l"j'-«d e'^Serly. " Well ? Trm ,^ I 1. j"u- ^^- ^"^P^ C"""* Victor by the arm and looked him in the eyes. " Nothing serious happened," replied Count Vic- n°a^uraraJa?L.-- ^* ^°"^ ''°'"-*''=^ -'^^'^ -- Doom seemed wondrously relieved. " Thev did not force an entrance ? " said he. 1- 'uT. ? ^'"^ *''^''' ''^st' but failed. I pricked one slightly fcefore I fell back on Mungo's Ecades that and some discomfiture from Mistress Annapla's punch-bowl completed the casualties." ^ . Well ? well ? well ? " cried Lamond, still wait- ing something Count Victor only looked at Wm in wonder, and led the way to the door wher^ Mungo drew back the bars and met his maste^with intelligence passed between the servant and h^s master: the Frenchman saw it and came to hs own conclusions, but nothing was said till the Baron had made a tour of investigation through the house and come at last to join his guest in the salle, where the embers of the fire were raked tr, gether on the hearth and fed with nrw^eat The" Count and his host sat down together, and when Mungo had gone to prepare some food fo^ his master, Count Victor narrated the night's ad! venture. He had an excited listener-one more 100 DOOM CASTLE. as^steadfastly as good bree3?„Vwou,d S=St' ** '"" tremhl-^ . '*.u ^°°"i' Stretching fingers that infe S;l*° *''" f^*-fl«"«' that stainel his face soH Jfn!l^ f^^"* ^)'"S° ^** e lanes, so that Count Victor haH .« !• ¥"«:far. inquisition. ' "*'' '° rehnquish his the first placeTth^ MTcfarknew""^- *•"«• I" «tir; then I've had nn^K,- V "*'"'' '* caus ng a aboit yon. He was to m..? °' ''?'''''"« '° P'tullo over, bJthis wifedXgedhim u'S wlf{fi;'''f T^ *" the castle. Lord I Ws a w "f T*" •"" ° '^'""er in the waur o' a leathS », Vk '^''° '^?''''' ^e nane Well, she took t^e Z,dma„ t^^h "^^ '.1 *''? """'h- dumb dog he is amo5 See a„d'1h''/^°"«'' « have been little to his taste I'^v 'J** *'"iP ""«" waited, and I mirtt hnv« k!!* ^ *.^'*=** anrf^ better coming yeVfwVs «n^^*r r""''S '^^ his home- MaccSl^"^ oweJ and thi'l'^'" ■'° l''^*°P A*^' "f ping. Count/wTll have to ij'^ut'"!'"' 'i'^'- Y""' longer." '^ P"t off a day or two 105 CHAPTER XIII. A lawyer's good lady. The remainder of the night passed without further alarm, but Count Victor lay only on the frontiers of foreetfu'ness till morning, his senses all on sentry, and tne suit, wind-blown dawn found him abroad before the rest of Doom was well awake. He met the calesh of the Lords ^oing back the way i* bad come with an outrider m a red jacket fro'" the stable of Argyll : it passed him on '.he highway so close that he saw Elchies and Kilkerran biUf sleep- ing within as they drove away from the scene of their dreadful duties. In a cloak of rough watchet blue he had borrowed from his host and a hat less conspicuous than that he had come in from Stirling, he passed, to such strangers in the locality, for some tacksman of the countryside, or a trav- eller like themselves. To have ventured into the town, however, where every one would see he was a stranger and speedily inquire into his business there, was, as he had been carefully apprised by Doom the night before, a risk too great to be run without good reason. Stewart's trial had created in the country a state of mind that made a stranger's presence there somewhat hazardous for himself, and all the more so in the case of a foreigner, for, rightly or wrongly, there was associated with the .«..-ne of the condemned man as art and part in the murder that of a Highland officer in the service of the io6 DOOM CASTLE. m^ Sad rJ^S^e^i'fhe'^p^TtrV'"' "^ ^ ^*- shiel, Achnacoin and F«n, i^l^^^JJ'^'^* °f Ard- breed of the ancient tS^tt'''"^^ '^^l '"^'y them said to be on thl Hr " ^ T^ numbers of from the thatch weretvenTlheIn ^''^ r^P^"" vently believed in that th?=,^rJ town and so fer- without any nlausibf; Z. ''PP^arance of a stranger would have^stft'n'; Sf '° ^"^^ °' •""'""-'f the'^Ck'butlntf fn ^'^^ "°^^ °b-°- danger of one almost as grea ^ftlTheTn'l^*""?'''^^ "" °° to avoid. He had Vnn» fK ^\^^ been mstructed gara and comrs Jdenll ' n"^\V^^ *°°d of Stron borethedoomed man to thf" ^^^ cavalcade that thirty or fortv miles away ' '"""" °^ '''^ ^'=^'="ti°n eye defiant, but Kuntenr''P"".-'='°*'''"&' ^is anxieties of his sitiatfon H^ '^'"*^ ^'*'' *•»« a troop of sabres -the h;r««^ iT^r surrounded by clatter'upon the h4rd road Tnd r°/'* v^'^' ^ ^'^' •ng abstractedly alone the rit^f Ku"* ^"=*°''' ^^'k" before he was aware If chtfr''?"^' '^^'^^ °n tbem to let them pass hTwas tourf/n '^""'*y- ^' ^^ ^t°°d glance the convict gave h^^ = "^ '||expressibly by the question, -hope! drfad and' fh ''^"^^- ^^^ "* ^'b human sympathy rI h»H i^ fu^P^J^^ <'°'- ^"^^ "en condemned-once iS frotft'";^^* '°°'' •'^^'^ in and with the utmost feel?nlf^ ./'"^ ?"'" rapier.- he stood, when t^e cavalcade h J ""^PP^ ^^^^-^h It and conjuring i^hTsK^^^ pe look ng after whereof that cfeatu^ w^d^ ?e%hTcSV«- ^ - was he standing when anotw\ ''S'"''^- Ui-Ji, ;iim suddenly fol^w^n.^? ■!) " horseman came troop -a civiliaVwho rh^fe^fhV" '^' "^"^ °/*'''= unexpected meeting. Hfhad n- P"'^ °^ ^^^ A lawyer's good lady. 107 formally returned. He was struck singularly by some sense of familiarity. He did not know^the horseman who so strangely scrutinised him as he L hfm' U ^'* '^^^^"^ ^^^ °"^ "°t altogether new h?= I ?^V., "x."^^' u ^^" ^''^'"^ friendly, too, and for for av^rJ'on *""'" '°"''' "°* *''■"'' °^ ^°V reason' actk>n''o?'t'lr»,"'°''^ readily have accounted for the ^ii u ,*• . horseman had he known that he had ridden beliind the soldiers but a few hundred yards at on^n'f f.^"'^''' ^°""* V*=t°^ ^'^en he turned off at one of the hunting-roads with which the ducal 1?TA\^''°""?"'^'/"'^ S='"°Ped furiously back ?o- tTn h. r tf ^i*i^ °^ "^""Sy"- Nothing checked hm till he reached the entrance, where he flung the reins to a servant and dashed into the turret-room wCe the Duke sat writing. ^ "Ah, Sim!" said his Grace, airily, yet with an fhan I°lor/;'7°"°"' ".• '" ^^'^ ''°^' back sooner SLln^thoJ^V"""*'"^ "-^""^ "'*•• *^^ ""'« f.^^'^'^u^^'^u- ^^'"'^^ ^'"^ ^°^^ hands upon the table where his master wrote. "They're all right so far as I went with them," said he ; <• but f your ^rl"/ '? ?/ P°''*'°" "^""^ "P°" a foreigner inX wood of Strongara-a gentleman by the looks of him and a Frenchman by his moustachio, all alonj and looking after Sergeant Donald's company, wha? would your Grace's inference be ' " ^ rh^'R\ "h^'^^^'y- did not share much of his Chamberlain s excitement. " There was no more than one there?" he asked, sprinkling sand Ton hs finished etter. "No! Then thfre seems'^no g eat excuse for your extreme perturbation, my good kZ'. IV°'^ °f Argyll, but I'm not lord of°he kings highway and if an honest stranger cares to ^mMTT" ^'lf%' ^"'^ ^t^'^d between th^ Mn.T *? °" ^^=«=Taggart's dignity- Simon MacTaggarf s very touchy dignity it would appear -who am I that I should blame the liberty > You io8 DOOM CASTLE. w did not ride ventre a terre from Strongara (I see a Sveifer c„°:: "7' ^T^""^^^ *° '«" ^ we had a traveller come to admire our scenery? Come come, Sim! I'll begin to thinlc these kte eccTn-' tncities of yours, these glooms, abstractions e"o^s pal1id'"Ll"' ^"V"'''^P°^'*'°"^' -d -bove\frthat pallid face are due to some affair of the heart " As he spoke Argyll pinched his kinsman playfully of th. ^"•■'1""^ the gocl companion, with 3 dls^faVinloTo^^r ^' ' '"'^ ™^''' "^*"^^"^ he^cried'^^" rJn^'^l"''' l"*^ Argyll laughed. "Ah ! " W f h! rK u" } ^^^^ ■"* '* • 'le went on, quizz- ing the Chamberlain. " See that you give me fair warning and I'll practise the accustomed^nd essLn- i ^ t; ^P?" ^y ^°"' ^ haven't danced si^ce Lady Mary left, unless you call it so that fooLh minue . You should have seen her Grace at St James's last month. Gad! she footed ft like an lef Ai"''" ' "°!^ ^''''r ''^"'^^^ '" London town sfm I^ r"T ^^^^ ! '^^""'' whoever she may be, orTh. 1 ' dance and sing and play the harpsicLrd th.n ., "'^''i'r'^^y ^-"^ 'Charms thkt will last longer than her good looks, and will not weary you so soon "Lyi XfT *'"*'' '° ??"'='' •" fas^ion'owa days, when every woman listens to every clever thing you say, that she may say something cleverer or perhaps retail it later as her own " ^■<=verer MacTaggart turned about impatiently, poked with his ndmg crop at the fire, and plainly indicated That he was not in the mood for badinagef All that has nothing to do with my Frenchman your Grace," said he bluntly. 'i-"man, "Oh, confound your Frenchman ! " retorted the IJuke, coming over turning up the skirts of his coat, and warming himself at the fire. " Don't sav Frenchman to me, and don't suggest any more thaT' i'^'^f "r^ and intrigue till^fhe mei^ory of that miserable Appin affair is off my mind. I know A lawyer's good lady. 109 what they 11 say about that: I have a good notion what they're sayjng already-as if I personally had a ^12. animosity to this poor creature sent to the gibbet on Leven-side." ".I think you should have this Frenchman arrested forinquirv : I do not like the look of him " Argyll laughed. "Heavens!" he cried, "is the mar gane wud ? Huve you any charge agkinst this u. ,jrtunate foreigner who has Sared tl shd er him! !tfH^nZVTt^ And if you have, do you fancy^t IS the old feudal times with us still, and that I can clap him in my dungeon-if I had such a thing-without t\?.,'nH?' wT ^■t'' the.':°'nn>on law-officers of the land? Wake up, Sim! wake up! this is '55, and there are sundry written laws of the State that unfortunately prevent even the MacCaile.. Mor snatching a man from the foot-path and hanging him because he has not the Gaelic accent and wear! his hair in a different fashion from the rest of us. Uont be a fool, cousin, don't be a fooli " .mply the Duke may not' care for ^l^^?^""*" That should be enough^ for the Fiscal anH°?''*^- °r,S,*''f„''«'"PSte^. shouldn'tft?" ^"'^ ^'°"S Mac?aggLrt:"nd''rSS:t th"C^ ^ ""* ^^^«' ^r Forbes-f . Insthute . '° F ftlef Calben *""^'^ '" and the baron bailie mi^hf k ^^'"P'^" assessors PlantationTonthat dufvtenT '""' ^ '?^" *° ^^e "l*m''°th^:k'i;"^%Sef aTm':?/^-" "'"^ l'^^''- further gone tL^%t&y,th '„ TmaT with .^ unlucky name of Stewart—ll" h„ ,^" 7'*'' '^e "ngly smiled, and made Vesture wiffi-fi""'^"- across his neck, at the same Hm. • • ' '^"^^''^ sound with his throat ^""°^ ^^ °<14 " Oh ! You're an awfu' man," cried PetnJb with A lawyer's good lady. "3 the accent of a lout. "I \\3nder if you're on the same track as myself, for I'm like the Hielan' soldier — I have a Frenchman of my own. There's one, I mean, up by there in Doom, and coming down here to-morrow, or the day after, or as soon as I can order a lodging for him in the town." " Oh, hell I " cried the secretary, amazingly dum- foundered. " There's nothing underhand about him, so far as I know, to give even his Grace an excuse for con- fining him, for it seems he's a wine merchant out of Bordeaux, one Montaiglon, come here on business and stopped at Doom through an attack on his horse by the same Macfarlanes who are of interest to us for another reason, as was spoken of at his Grace's table last night." "And he's coming here?" asked MacTaggart, incredulous. " I had a call from the Baron himself to-day to tell me that." " Ah, well, there's no more to be said of our sus- picions," said MacTaggart. " Not in this form at least." And he was preparing to go. A skirt rustled within the inner door, and Mrs PetuUo, flushed a little to her great becoming in spite of a curl-paper or two, and clad in a lilac-coloured negligee of the charmingest, came into the office with a well -acted start of surprise to find a client there. " Oh, good morning ! Mr MacTaggart," she ex- claimed radiantly, while her husband scowled to himself as he relapsed into the chair at his desk and fumbled with his papers. " Good morning ; I hope I have not interrupted business ? " " Mr MacTaggart was just going, my dear," said Mr PetuUo. A cracked bell rang within, and the Chamberlain perceived an odour of cooking celery. Inwardly he cursed his forgetfulness, because it was plain that the hour for his call upon the writer was ill-chosen. H rfii "4 DOOM CASTLE. PetuS «nSe a tZ"'^'^ f''^^? '-day," said fne?" with a tone that left '^,''°"°"'- of joining immediate departure as the rl "I' 1°° '"dely! alternative. ^* *"^ Chamberlain's only roilTatloS; an'd"mrK"'" IV" ^acTaggart " J done with .• '^i^e' ma2 forlft ''«'« ^ than close m his cry and Lm^ 'ne dcor, Mrs Petullo hurried a depaVh^re,wh5esh/i.t '^'' 'J'^fy'ng "o about the last night 'soar V V't' 1? * chattfring but his hunger (he ha^^K "^"^ husband hesitated fufh shruied atomS Itr^'^?^ appetite of .being accused of iealousv l^^''^^*°'n« ^ar of hermach?natfl^'"YTj°'"^?''"^' ""^d^nie for said he; " it's a half!^^ if 7.'?'^ ^om the w,ndow°' *°-day. I'll warrant •"""'^'^ '''""" ^^ the gS^ with l "- brute?" Her husbaiXwu^^lr^ ° ''°" ''*^' the •houting on a servant cam^ to »? ''"'r" "l^^^'ously The servant immediateTy after ri^'^r t*'"'"'*- with an intiiration that Mr Pet^fll^ r'°.*'" "^"O' where the spirit-bottle w" """ ^'^"'"^ '» know afternoon, Sim." "'urew. kiss me good he';LlLVhe°,°^4rritfc'^,V'' *''°"^''* »>-» fair. "'gariy, ujce a clown at a country flastdtdTgttitr "^""^ "- --*". and her eye, sh^Ji'Yn'^aS*^^^^^^^ Si-on." said that." "^' " used not to be like spirit of simplicity. S„esrfl^"^'\r-«'n"' Punty that he had souKhrfor t» ^^'■- '''°°"'' =" with mute ges- we%^tSrsx'S'd"^ ■'•\''°- - dermg flesh, and the hoof-beaTs 1 ^V" t.''" ^''"'*- causey. stones. The beaJt wV *'^"n* all of hat his host conSed * A^J^^^^^^ notion lanes, who sought their "^pJl? T'"" l^^ ^acfar- clansman. He armed h.wJf^tu'^''- *''«^ '"iured out his candles, and throwW v'**" h" «^°'d, blew Jay waiting for the silnnlT^ ^""^^'^ "P°" his bed himself skep stole of hL t ^■^''^^^- ^" ^P^'e of each time tcffindtn hour' wafgoL'"'^ ""' ^"'''-^'^ on thrhuLSot^gaS'"- ¥^* -l-P^ heat of water, and a loud sef c?^d off r*^, ^ T'^^ ^t^^*" "Pon the outer edge of the Ick I? n^"*^ ^""^ ''^o'^e sea and ominous, and t was h.rHf^"^"'- ^ loud in that welter of mMn;ii,r • ^'^'^ 'or Count Victor an owl, yet ifcam'SSCnl b° ""'^'u ^"^ "" °f with ,ts repetition. And then thi'^' ^= ^^ expected, famihar and baffling melodv fl. *• ^*^^°'^* ^'^h its the wind that pfp^eraboui ^°ht*'"^ "^ *=""^"t of sobbed upon the stairs H» i"?^*'^ ^^nts and «nto the iepths that f il "th°Sd''^' ^°°'- '"""^^^ the basement and upwarfs tn th I" u^ '*^P« '"to Baron had been goinj Whethl u'^^l ^''^^^ ^he his inquiry further or r^f.v J L ^^ should carry with a forceS^:enc^o^"h «hut ^'? ^"°' ^'fe^" was but the toss ofTcoin As'L^rP*''^'"/ '"'^"'^ o^^^^^^xtii^rv^-^"- h-, and he waited t^crfZfte ^Ttltftt^ :;. AMOUR. lai In the darlupF= the sten. walls about him seemed to weigh upoi his heart, ind so imbued with vague terrors that he uiibi.c^ithsd his sword. A light re- vealed itself upon the stair ; he drew back into his room, but left the door open, and when the bearer of the light came in front of his door he could have cried out loudly in astonishment, for it was not the Baron but a woman, and no woman that he had seen before, or had any reason to suspect the pres- ence of in Doom Castle. They discovered each other simultaneously, — she, a handsome foreigner fumbling to put a rapier behind him in discreet con- cealment, much astounded ; he, a woman no more than twenty, in her dress and manner all incongruous with this savage domicile. In his after - years it was Count Victor's most vivid impression that her eyes had first given him the embarrassment that kept him dumb in her pres- ence for a minute after she had come upon him thus strangely ensconced in the dark corridor. It was those eyes— the eyes of the woman born and bred by seas unchanging yet never the same ; unfathom- able, yet always inviting to the guess, the passionate surmise— that told him first here was a maiden made for love. A figure tremulous with a warm grace a countenance perfect in its form, full of a natural gravity, yet quick to each emotion, turning from the pallor of sudden alarm to the flush of shyness or vexation. The mountains had stood around to shelter her, and she was like the harebell of the hills. Had she been the average of her sex he would have met her with a front of brass ; instead there was confusion in his utterance and his mien. He bowed extremely low. "Madame; pardon! I — I —was awakened by music, and " ■' Her silence, unaccompanied even by a smile at the ridiculous nature of the rencontre, and the proud sobriety of her visage, quickened him to a bolder sentiment than he had at first meditated. 122 DOOM CASTLE. " I was awakened bv mns.V o„j -. S;. With n,ada.erpe"-Lr„ f shXa-- the":ri:TSd.:rtSfnnh''r' -'"J'"-" "er.. the light from hi^ ooen hV .'*^"'.' '''^^ seemed, in Perhaps she %dnoT hear n' 1° ^"'Pu*''^ blackness understand, for she hesiHtn/ ''^P\'''^ '^''^ n°t fully if pondering, not a S aston7,°h'' V"^" t '"°"'^"t ^^ her eyes upon his coMtenance rf °^ v'^'^^''"'^' ^'th to God that he had lived a Hp^ "VY"^'°''^''shed he^elt that there were lts%Sn[ste hX^ng ^:^;'z i°ai5\7 iSriir-^^ °^ ^°- '^- he music of lulled little w-iv.?.^'- '" ^ ^°'^^ with -n summer weathe^a Jostv^thoT:"/"'^ '^'' English was not her nat irni , ""°"' ^ trace that mnuendo of the mountanmelodTbn't'".'. ■''*"' <■-"* charm of her accent "melody but adding to the tro'bL"i SlhLlt A"lJ7hS" ''.\--tache. have looked for perturbation ' "'^ht naturally' he couTd °sVlooktfat^^h' P",'°" ' " ^^^ -» that that seemed uncommon t?'^ "P°" her shoulder her Indian shawf ZTveiled he'r T'"'' *^ ^'"< °f ga^e, instinctively drew closer hi"™' ^^^ "^^ ^'^ dened at her erro^r in s^ do7ng ^'' '"''"• '^^'^ ^«d- He had the woman there! but Kv°e\e'a^rJTrst^;"ai:d1f "'- °^ -> than once and wondered I Z n . 1""'"^ '"^'^'^ smiled the smile of the %„ „^^.. f ' ''""^ '.'-he 't was, let me say Orpheus Inn^ ^J-^ "°' ''"°"' ,^'th his lyre restored from amon/^.l''"' °'"P'''^"« tions, and forgetting sompJhln ?^- ^''^ constella- Madame, I hope Orpheu? wfl ^ ? "1°''' ^°"« "ack- affairs m this hmiBo h,„„ i '""8> '"« all the odd with his daughter Ohvfa" '' *° '^° "^'^ '•™ ^^an bu?:ith"f L'nsSne" tat'"r "'^TM- ''^^ "-^. perfectly entrancing * ^'''°' '"""^^ wh:ftet:dTaftt2:';a'?%h"''^' r'''"^ «'•« toilet that morning, a{ he ran Ji.%!!'^'''"^ °^ ?'^ beard and the thick brn^n ^^ .u ''"^^''^ "v^"" his above his br^_"^;X^miH'*'''^'jf'y'="^'^'' pestileatly like a foni ,n^ . ""^'^^'no'selle, I feel she had some?h^g":^^ e t5?a,r"sh' wfu'°'^ ''''" lip — the orchard^ of r, ^' , *"* '»^'' "ether never bred a cher^ 1 tho^«n'^^^' ^'^ *°'"^ ^'^'^^'' so inviting even '7 look at In '' P^I'S-"^ "'^ '^"d dubiety havered round he^ eves' H^:'*^''-; ^ t^ pleasure to speak. ^ "® ^'^^d her pernaps it might be well that— that GLAMOUR. taS oTofthlt'redVit' -J"^ °' '""'^ •"-*-^. — an:i'ltt7it'„%S?lir'/f C-"S Victor, "I condition it ha^s some im.7r '""^"'''"''^*- ^^ that to wander info thT mo t nH^ ""/ '° ^"'^ ^°^""« tions. But as it h<,n^f if ^"*^ ravishing situa- a single incident of th-*''t' I can never recall morning. A/a/oi rwh. " '^'"F" ^ w^'^'^" -n the his suspcions of he^larn';:""^'''^'^ ^''^^ «^«° y«t would with some pleasure h..'"'"' ""satisfied), <■ I spirator myself and I have all thTn ^ "°'*""^' ,'=°"- -itself as well as to you, and A telJ^Lt Jo led"tLXl5L"c\tm£dl°'" % ^"'J^' gr-vely restored the hght with ," ' ''"r'* ^* *he threshold not without iwLSairt;'7,%f P"''*^ P°^*"""g stick she looked in wL face witt^. ^^ '"m *''? ""'''«- ment in her eves^WvIn^ ^ ? *'^.'"'''^ °f amuse- betrayed ^ ' ^"^'"^ ''" ^ ^'^a<=ity "ot hitherto across from the shore 1-^°/ '^^ """" '" ^^'^'"^ morKStiral tLTc^: rSet' "S"^7 ^l '^^ tho'ugtt Te^^ °h?d-r ^^'^'^^^i^ ieavii. h!':vtd'^hre;iack'?o ts otr^^^ 126 CHAPTER XV. A RAY OF LIGHT. ™f tv '■.^'"^'",'^^''l?^r'''* '=/°""'l •" P°«"s) she wasrnorl than herself, she was the other dso. at least shSiW Ind d«nn-l °J *•*!.* FT^ sisterhood of immaculatf and despoiled, and. looking in his face, compelled to see his utter unworthinessf compelled to cti?^ A°^ ^^^^l ^""^ ^^'^e'l in the narrow garden s 111 sodden wit& rain though a bold warmVun shone S Cut In^ni- ^°^ °';^'""'y he was not change! able, but an Olivia in Doom made a difference- those mouldering walls contained her; shelooked out on the sea from those high peering windows ■ that bower would sometimes shilter her ; those alTen breezes flowing continually round Doom were or v^ leged to kiss her hair. Positively there seems no I/nTtLr -'""W- ^^'^^ ^'' ^'•y he sLuld bll^ pr°? cipitate m his removal to the town! Indeed fhe told himself with a smile of his sub-conscLus self at A RAY OF LIGHT. 127 newlodtin.^ Ti? - ■ ''"^B'' *» arrange for his Mungo quite comprehended. =Er.^SS 'St'"" - gutcher. auld Alan/ance thouehtTh. n^"°" '.^k'^^*" extravaeanre o- ? ^^""^ '" ^ ="*'^ ^^^^ the vtry isS DOOM CASTLE. be n t^o SZ S;^t v'^. ''"'•I"- 3" have so much in love t seemed 'whhh- '^'' f°*^^''"^' so much his fam liar^nH 7 i^'^ ''"'P'°y^''' a""! MuVo's'tii^e"''' "° ^''°^' *° — ' ^t°'e over "IW^ ™t"<=''^"t frae Bordeaux!" he cried mair ordinar the ink-horn at theirb^lTs'^nH Tk' sporran at their groins " *"'' ^^^ " H'm ! " exclaimed Mungo drily, as one who has a A RAY OF LIGHT. "9 sense of being flattered too obviously. "The Baron's a bairn, like a i.Tie gentlemen I've seen, and he kens me iang enor^h and likes me weel enough to mak' nae secret o' what it were to a'body's advantage should be .lae secret to Mungo Byde. In this place Im sentinel, spy, and garrison; it wad ill become the officer in command to let me be doin' my wark withoot some clue to the maist important pairt o't. ..''t ^""^ °" ^ ^^'^^ 'or ane Drimdarroch." You are a wizard. Monsieur Mungo!" cried Montaiglon, not without chagrin at Doom's hand- ing over so vast and vital a secret to a menial. I,«„Tf"ty''T"l'^J'* "''"'' '* '''■°" that I should ken that; but I be't to ken it, for there's mony a P„ -l^^fu"^' ""^ maiEter, and nae foreigneer comes nside thae was whase pedigree I canna hae an inklin o . Ye re here aifter Drimdarroch, and ye're no veiy sure aboot your host, and that's the last thing I wad haggle wi' ye aboot, for your error'll come to ye by-and-by." Count Victor waved a deprecating hand. Oh, I ken a' aboot what mak's "e sae suspici- ous, went on Mungo, undisturbed, "and it's a thing T I J u^ ■ '^'^^'' t° y^ '" a quarter-hoor's crack iT I had his leave. Tak' my word for't, there's no' a ^tter man wi his feet in brogues this day than the Baron o Doom. He should be searchin' the warld wi the sword o' his faithers (and the same he can use), but the damned thing is the warld for him doesna gang by the snout o' Cowal and the pass o' Olencroe. He had a wife ance; she's dead and buried in Kilmorich; noo he's doited on his hame and his dochter " "The charming Olivia!" cried Count Victor, thinking m one detail at all events to surprise this little custodian of all the secrets. "Ye met her last night," said Mungo calmly, seemin? to enjoy the rapidity with which his proofs ot omniscience could be put forth. "That's Iialf the secret. Ye were daunderin' aboot the lobby wi' 130 DOOM CASTLE. f-cfef, ---,i>^heard oWrae .he noose Ike this? aIIj . ^^'^ blame ye in a the lass wal uVea^t'to?erto.P ">« <^-y. bu? She had to come to me befori T ° T*"" "'feting, for Annapla's no' in this part o^Sf *"" ''^°°'' ^ 'I protest I have no CI/a r F^°y ^^ *"•" tak'me?" " '""'^ "^oon" Doom; d'ye ;; But still-but still -. say. Vhar leVt?ut"cS'? ?' ^-^ *«« ^^oot to o' you and me thl^t has n^ d±* '*'f °"|j' *''« ^^^ sel's wi' that can guess the hkeo'?hf/° ^t^' °°^- on as ye say. and that's wW - -> »^^' '* ^^" maun put oor trust in you r" ,'?? ^"^.M-ss Olivia I'm a traits, ;_ .l.' '" y°"- /" this affair I'll admit ;,-" " t""- uor trust m von Tr> *!,■ ;;:.'"'= '-'"vii I'm a traitor in the cam^=.f i ^^'^ ^^'" I'" admi mander, but I think h'T^T/ -l"' *° '''^ ^mp com mander.but I thTn'k h-Tr/* '-f ' *« the camp™ ;nS^^^'-^--5nVe-o?J:^rDsIt?S Vic'ton' ' '°^ °"«' ' hope?" interjected Count iaid tS-'iS^ 1"T ,;j„,^ht that wasna deevil, and the kind's h„7 SUi^^: "« ^ a takin' as.I ha'e had ony exAfence o^fi'^ """""y' '^ far M.SS Olivia, nae further |ane t"",' ^^'"^ °^ ^ad, fused to promise she Lh ■ ""'' '^^' ^"day, re- though she's the ger^ o' dnfZ "^ '"""*'°' ^im.- bonny een! His Ship tt .n'' '^ ''^""^ ^^^ ordered her to her ronm ^° a"P '" * tirravee and t- 1 he should mak' arrang^mentff ""P'" i?^ ^^^derT his guid-sister's in the fow ? ^^^ ^""^'"S her to found us in a ki^" o' conZion" K^r ^our comin' ^Pared yersel' my treS^ ^^^0^ 'J? A RAY OF LIGHT. 131 peat and the cr"esro'^%tdie thaTkll,-''„- '^ can tell ye thines frap nr^ fl u " ° witches by the A«cV^ ay^^^^^^^^ «ee wi' his bare feet ' It «*;„ i I- ^ ^"^ " come staggered him a bit. 'sSor h'i""' °^' •">'''' ^tt'4rw\'St*shtet'h" n'^^ ''"'^' '"^'^ a new lame fnf vV , *''Pi?*<^'' "°o and start produce her before ye feave " ' ''^" ''^^ *° twiltin" his';„°o.'S. "■' ^°""* ^''='-' '^-"y man^yly.' '^° ''"'" ^'' P^"'^""^ ? " said the little I' Farceur! No. to leave." tone!"ar.X-- ^ ^PJ^^TJ: \'^'' "- barefit but the ithfr ane h"s'thJl,rX'L'-^°"^ said^CoJnl vfctor"a'^d"f ^*"°"' \ assure you," »3« DOOM CASTLE. •nJ J., he™ .KiltSir?"'' •'" """"•• ^^t/VZA^"- second Si.ht be an uicoldoll,'^,!. ^ "^aV'"' 'f- willi„. to at the biddin- o' ™vi« ?^ T^ ?u ^ ^*."'« ^'"«>°w The same flag thS keens «ff '' ■. u''"*"" ^^'^'• fetch a boKle Thire-r^. . ^- "'"='' ""^^ easily when ifssffefor the lad t^"" '!""' r"°° ^"^^ ">«" Jand. and fo that therelnlunT"* ■"''" f"". ""''"- kind, otherwise, if I ke„ Z^LirlV^""} ° ^'"'' aff this rock f 'r^ . n- . P'"'' "* ^ad never be £Js^ani^!f->?--XS^ ^^Mungo heaved a deep breath as if relieved of a to*met^t'"tot exriLn';'r' 7^^ ''^^'***«' family reputatioL^iJlXt aUVht*fis°to *'•' somewhat-somewhat crepuscular -■ ^' *° ""^ funniest bt of all If v«'r« vT ^' .^^.. * * '"* thafU be plailt ye^t^^^^e'^elU l^fc^^",!- A RAY OF LIGHT. 133 EralTl^'thaf l^l^S**'"*^ °;'*""" «•'"''•'' whiles nis talk with the visitor, and sought his kitchen " I regret exceedingly " bat—-- "*"">■ »'1"1e="" «.1Ii«, M. le Coum' 134 DOOM CASTLE. awkwrrre:s!"fc°i'. °^J^'^ great shame of his narily I should resX't a 1f^ *■ **°°*a>glon. " Ordi- that I should w?nLndrV"Ty*° 'he extent than stumble u^„ it but fhf ♦•'"^ *? '""""^ '^^^'' whether to blaiS^ myself for 0,^" ^ ^° ."°* ''"°^v pleased that for oncf t hr^Kf "'^''^"^ °'" ^^1 company. Muneo w • ^'^°^S''t me into good tomaVdiscrS°at 'he'c^ se' ofl. ""''^ ""'' "- sympathise with the father^^th fh.A^ "'P^^'y- ^ ravi, and " ' ^'" t"e daughter _;« mis " cL't7"°Kg-*.?!i?^'y ruffled Doom, daughter had need be a man^of"lf1>"' ^ °»'y done my best with this 01,\^f f Patience. « have mother when a child ''_^^^^°^ TT- ^^^ '"«* her ness here came to his voice ""Th""'^"'*" !f"'^^^- this shore and this lonelv W^' c "^^^ ^°°ds and what once made t a pa Le to .^^ °"i' "'■' ''"''bed of fancied, uncongenial lahZ ^f ^""^ """«' were, I the Lowlands.^ She came 1f'"if' ^"'* ^ ^"^ ^er'to call it-I think ZTh^T L ^^"^ educated as thev she took away but fel S^'^'' f^ &°°d ^ heart as times for the'^iife i„"?h'^'Sle"of *°''"^"" ^°'"- been always the town for hlr fu ^°°^- ^* has alwaj^s the town, for There she fell "'^ -'u '"°"'hs. who is no fancy of mine " '" "^'^h a fellow enSn^^h'lT^^^^^^^^^^^ figure lie had seen firT^ , his mental vision the and a rogue to a gentleman tI, .' u?.^ ^'=« "^^n the rogue is for ever ThowJn^&'f-hhnd, because qualities till they shtebefte^hfn°'^ '"^^ham good -n-s may. T^ „, l^^^ ^^ t"mT tT A RAY OF LIGHT. 135 iSunf ' l7s"ii' hu^rl ^ ^'=°,f "*•=' "« ^« ever left unnung. a s in his look— well, scarcely so to tpll Uke.mfnrrf'^'-fu'* '°°"" ">^n ^e my daughter take up for life with a creature of his stamp I would have her ,n her grave beside her mother. UnluckHv In to my Jw?" '^^^ ^'' •"*'°<'"<='ion of such l To all this Count Victor could no more th=.n TunT' n'' ^^■'"^J^'^y- •'"* f'- had enouTh of Se young gallant in him to make some mental reser™ tions in favour of the persistent wo^rtwasTn spinng lovers was quite justified by the wooer's real character ,n spite of the ill repute of Kistorv He reflected that this confidence of Doom's left unexplained his own masquerade of the pTeviius h^A- /^aH «^^^ "° whisper to the thought and S 'tt?n>-^°-'^" i* ly ^^^"'"&' when7or the hrst time Olivia joined them at her father's table 136 CHAPTER XVI. OLIVIA. S"heVrfsrS"a? ,';;'»■'='' O'-- f-n° -"'<^ ^ose most of it. He was ^ntlf k .""* ^""^"^ made tVe this was a lady K'en hh."'""' *°? gentle-for wuh which so'^manrof her sex7r''J^-'?^'=«'»^'"t flattered ; he was not .in Jt- jr .* f^^ deceived and compliments, yet he had X^^' °^ }^^ """^^ honest the mere meaningless iw'thf^'^"^'^ *" e«<:hew employ with the crllturfrof v-° °"' '°"'^ '^««- their ohves well oiled or th.»i ^"^^' '^''o liked of the Italian comSV and 1^''."" ^"^ ^''"^ ' ana the playhouse. Under OLIVIA. 137 I am so glad you like our countiy. Count Victor " h^mfh-n °°^y dubious about ffs pm"e of h^r home hills, those loud impetuous cataracts and that alluring coast. " It rainsLoh ! it rains—" """' FarfatUment, mademoiselle, but when it shines I " and up went his hands in an admiS wherefor words were too little eloquent: ar'Stt moment he rnTnTeta S^^ ^^ ^''°- ^^-e'- her eves th^^T^' ''''?''',">" ^ ^irl who h J t^s °n fc/j.^! '1. ^ tears of gladness. The hills-let mv mn^f I ^" ^r °^*'"= '''"^' Count Victor; I think^e ^s tiTnnr '"?^%t''*'» he loves his' own Sfivll —IS that not cruel of a man with an only child? He would die, I am sure, if he could not b^ seeing them when he liked; but I cannot b^considernf tt^l^t no "n"'"' ^%r^ °r «i^"^' -"y °-° « t'f wih to th. h TV^? •'^ fancying, is acquainted wiih to the heart but me and the red deer and maybe a hunter or two. Of course we ha^^ the s4f cfen*^'.^' ' """'"^ "''*= '' ' -"'d show jlou blac^.' Kw?^ " ^^' °°" °"' °*°'" «^'d Doom, ™.Ir^''/* *?"'^^ ^^ """"S' as father says, and is mine yet so long as I can wa^k there and be think and the wild ducks are plashing in the lake." ^ ' Uoom gave a significant exclamation: he was re &it*e%r„SL1 ^•''^^^'^ forhisda^^K unwearied eye. that curious turLf pirase thit mfd^ 138 DOOM CASTLE. times; and it is but naturS^/hff any time and all country of France thfr/t that you should love the and l2au iful coun rv in^' ^"" '°^^ '^ ^ '''^ve t.mes Wing m^yX^^l ^rT^l^I^ .--■ beautiful women. TeU mJV-V^, 'j "u'^ ,^"® ^^^e for arm that shone warm s^ft ,nH fh'^n^^"/'' °° ^n short sleeve of her ^'wn and nJ??h '"^^ ^'°"' '^^ chins upon a hand for f},.. • P"* *"^ sweetest of Montaiglon looked in nfr""^'"^ "^ '^^^rts. yet profound? and stiiXwf" ^y^' ^. ^^nk and moiselle Olivia." ^X ^^T^ ^ ?^^^- " Made- oh. Cecile!), " herare cnn«f^ '^"">' ^°^' Cecile! but for myself nerL^c '=°"«''*«ed not unpleasing- illusion."^ ' P^'^'^P' acquamtance has spoiled the anf u'ntlieTinf ^ "'^* ^* ^» = »>- «y^ grew proud F^nYe^'^saLre '?!li"fi 5^ *\« ^rave men of tell what thj, redly thS ^'''''T '^^^ ^°"W And he felt verv mM.h P*""^^" t° a woman." " Ah ! well t^ t^n tK ^'i'^u^'^ °f •'•'"self. confessedr-'I hive know^ I' '"^demoiselle." he them, and many thSlTk Jh*^ '^^"^iT"' °°«« ^^on| with affection.^Mort L ^ ' ^"f '*'" ""^t think of slave of your ;exSt for^I^h' ^ ^ "°* '''^ W ness, the/kindnesses a„rpuitie: ij T^o'n!" ^ ?°^ proach to mne? In thp IpLif r =ont>nual re- have never failed to hnA ^.u^"^^^* °^ 'hem I of my little mother " ^'^^th.ng to remind me Oliwatardry/he^^ittrki? -ch better." said filial note, -^i wou'^'^o? SL"lt J.^'f* '=°'"='"'''"g come from his own lan°d* a^n^^retf /"L^eX OLIVIA. 139 will often b!Zllng that th!?!-f' -f???' .*''^* ^nnapla hen would be bonnv if hir ""'^ *'""''^ **•« Pigeon that is a ««l/ATi-hat ir".f m'""" ^^^^^'^n^ true." •' '"^* 's an old-word that is soe'i."ere'TYoulhIn7Be^?"^.'^?/ "''='' ^ h-ve "it is. I swear it is-His^"^' '^"^ ^"""- Victor. Highland' gl?,';?.^ s^aid" Ohl '^ ^k^^-^"* *° ^ --P'e laughter in^her eyes ' "'"'' J"^* ^ ^int of known there, the^ sunny weatCTh T ^.''^^^ good, the comradeship so tnVrv *,''« /"i'^nds so Te-r whei y:j -rSn?™ ^^ ^ S^ woddl'ching:1hVb?eL1c''.°T\ "^^ f- -e. I vince of Cha5L„/.."\t^^' f'hem for the p;o. hand upon the table ^ ''^* ^" impulsive -nSLnTit\T^l'^\ff'':^--^ Olivia. "I hills and woods ^u mean ,h . ^ 1°"°^ °^ ^^e too? It is only fn my own lift. ° ^ T' ''""^ ''t the rowans that I can t^? ''"'f ^^^ glens among and sing: when wl"k th."/' "''^ ^^^ '''^ds! the shore and see the hilll Wl""'^' °' ^*^"d "Pon when the landT whL Sth'^'th °"* "^ *""'" °^ *™' IS trailing, Olivia LamonH- .^ ^"°^ ^"^ the mist jt is I do not know-that fn^ ""'^ f^'^V- What «t is sad, but it"s ^ood Lh t."f °^ ""y <=°""try; yon: it is then iS that th K^'r^' ^ '^^^ t^« and those who are not bird , f ''^'"'^' '"''''^ ^°"Ss. J-t be feeling the so^n^gsl^t t nr^oKrV^"^' 140 DOOM CASTLE. ' ^InA'Z SL^''^^?' °'s-t!aS" ""' ^^^^ understand ; MontaiVl7.n ? .^^^^^ *° S"ch as at my heari. a„TS"the"?rk ?Ah"e'fr''^ "' evening prayer " *"^ "'"s is my quilJ'prouf o'f S'conr"* ''''=*°^' " "'^^ Olivia, strange father! too that im'h"; ?".'• ^^ '« '^e has forgotten the 'od times a„i"thr'^M« *'"'''* ''^ of our dear neonl*. w , *"^ °'«J customs hills and of t'hetsts^L'MM*''' 'Ij^'^^^" "^ ^he the mists are alwair/n^ ''■"^'"ake no change, in the corrie vet a^VT "^ ^'"'^' ^"^ the deer is is of the^HiS^n^bb J sT ht'^" °"« *''^' any more for the old f^ ^ 1 ''°^® "°t care English tongue to his 0^0' h"*^ Preferring the of his patience when ther' "^ '"^'''"? ^ boast robs him of his S vn,^ ^ T u "^"^ .°^ England man. Count vfctor 'pTtr"" ''^ ^^^"^^^ °f that Is it not true thaU am saytg"fkthe°rT.^*th^ r "^J a^.u.t.onmg ga.e to DoVm^' ^hS,, ^^^n^^ differ'^^nce^Siercont^^""- " ^here is a great difference." ^^" condemnmg and showing an in- frii!''&;f&Sv°''^"' "^' -^ among about our fancies for the h^u" '^^' -^^^ V"derstand indeed if he smiled at us for ^ ^^ " "^""'^ "^ ^roll tartan. Whatever mvhtl ^u^ * '""^asure of the darling, may be telH^ vofof*';. ''^^'^ '"^"' ^^e sword. Count Victor df n'^Ar ^''^^artan and the poor souls as to forget them T^ '^u ^^ """' ^'"^h "ryei tnem. Though we must be OLIVIA. 141 S^^tn!'!"^",'" °"' 'Y""^ '^'^ '■" our speer ^ho will nor^gef^"-""^ "'J' ''^^^ ^ther tC- proLr JwXlhS.^LVl^ "°* -'"out a he novel to Coum Vict ™^Lt""rP^'='««l ^"d there seemed to be an uncfer m^ fo^^how or other Olivia was engaged upon iS^^^"'"^ '", "'^ *°rds: thought-of lecturing sCeo„n°?r*"Jy '^^''-he doubt about that, there wa,u " \^ had any Baron's chair, his face ius?«r. -^""8^° behind the seamed with 'smiles tC s ooZ"^ 7" '"'^ ^'•""'de^ understanding between him and th. ^""1 "°"""°" master; and once wh^n ch ^u "^ daughter of his her father, the liWe se^vftn, ^kk' '"o;^ direcUy at he back of his maste74l^,^d ^^^^^^^^ slyness. '^^^ head-a very gnome of Francf-^^^d'sr. "" sS ^oV^^f,'"^ ^^'^-s of that again; it is not like ly mvTfh'^'" ''«, t^"'"g me to hear about them so mu^^ « ^k"^""'^ '^ '^^ring know that have gone th J^r ^o ^"^"t the folk we telhng me th^tCny "^o'rbr!^^"'"'- ^hey J^e -nn. their hearts o^S .^S^ Zlor^J^-^ ger^tySrcfe"^^^^^^^^^^^ Mor Drummond and the Iv i ^ "'°"^''t "^ James he Tuileries stable cLd In'tsTf *? '^^ ^^'""d oan : none of these w^^ th ^- °^ *^'"*an to beg a loyalty in exile that he shouM P"='"'-«1"e figure of young woman. ^*'°"^'' '^^''^ to paint for this TrSai'^To^Xlltt h^T^°".' ^-^-d, er;^^^^^"-&e^Xn 14a DOOM CASTLE. had used often to consort with them at Cammercy, and later on in Pans. If the truth were to be told they had made a man of him, and now he was generous enough to confess it. nv ^ f^"-}^^"* ""i?^' y°"'' exiles, Mademoiselle Olivia," =aid he "When first I met with them I was a man without an ideal or an aim, without a scrap of faith or a cause to quarrel for. It is not good for the young, that. Baron, is it? To be passing the days in an ennui and the nights below the lamps. Well, I met your Scots after Dettincen. renewed the old acquaintance I had made at Cam- mercy, and found the later exiles better ' im the j~i „? ^^^ Balhaldies, the Glengarries, Murrays, and Sullivans. They were different, ces gem-la. ti^^'^y t*?ey rendezvoused in the Taverne Tourtel 01 t>t Oermains and that gloomy palace shared their devotion with Scotland, whence they came and of which they were eternally talking like men in a nostalgia. James and his Jacquette were within these walls, often indifferent enough, I fear, about the cause our friends were exiled there for: and Charles, between Luneville and Li^ge or Poland and London, was not at the time an inspiring object of veneration, if you will permit me to say so, M. le Baron. But what does it matter? the cause was there, an image to keep the good hearts strong, unselfish and expectant. Ah I tie songs they san| so full of that hopeful melancholy of the glens you speak of, mademoiselle; the stories they told of Tearlachs Year; the hopes that bound them in a brotherhood — and binds them yet, praise U bon Uteu! That ^vas good for me. Yes ; I like your exiled compatriots very much. Mademoiselle Olivia And yet there was a maraud or two among them ; no fate could be too hard for the spies who would betray them. For the first time in many hours Count Victor remembered that he had an object in Scotland, but with It somehow Cecile was not associated. OLIVIA. »43 Victor"" Oh'''".K*r" -"^'^^ ""* *^."* *•"= 'Py- Count victor. Oh, the wickedness of it I I feel black ImZ^nA"!^ l^^' °"^ iT'*",* Highland name and a Highland mother would take a part like yon. I would not think there could be men in f eJoM so «?„: I ^^u""?* ^^""^ '^"=''«* ""Others to make such sons, the ghost of a good mother would cry from her grave to check her child in such a villainy." ^nHerTipl l^lSeriS"" '"""'' '" ''^ '^'"•''"' said CoS'vktS '"°*'"' ""'* •'""^ '^^" ^ '°'^" niLt!"^ul,^^^ what was my father's name I " cried Ohvia ; Mungo hr.s been telling me that. Though ^Pl^^u'"^"' ^ *=°"'<' ^ killing him myself." hr„l, • *K f .r'''^ '1 °'"' ''■ehts sure enough I " pretn' e SS^^' '' "^ '^^* *•>- ^'^^ ^ ""— F^'n^^"^ ^""i ?Jr'* *^" i"^ ^•'""t tlie women of France," said Olivia. " I have a friend who was bufrr 7"^^' ""t' "■'f y°"' »"« ^^« indifferent there tC "''*'°^ u \'- ''! """^^ '>^^« ^" some mere that were worth his fancy " " oJr i^ri"^ ''*'w^ "^'""^ ^ " ^^°''Sht Montaiglon. fnm^l • ^"S,?' '! "°' '"""""^ against the cus- ternary passions " An unreasonabll envy of the diplomatist who had been indifferent to the'ladies of „,?fiV?°^ possession of him: still, he might have gratified her curiosity about his fair compatriots had Sl'cnSdirceLlr'^ *''" °"^'^'^ '"*^^^^* •" ^•'^ M4 CHAPTER XVII. A SENTIMENTAL SECRET. "Good NIGHT " said Olivia at last, and straightwav Count Victor felt the glory of the evening fclS He opened the door to let her pass through. 1 go back to my cell quiet enoueh " she said in iance""'"' ^''^ " ^""ing frown upln' her cou^L- fn"n!?*PP^ prisoner! " said he, "to be condemned .. ?i.T°"^ **'^" y"""" °wn company." th.tr 'V?7?^*^"„* "^^ '^"" ''"'^ pitiful company that Count Victor." said Olivia, wiffi a sigh. ^ It was not long till he too sought his fouch. and the Baron of Doom was left alonef =>n?°*2"'fl^*'°"? '°°'''"6 *' ••'* crumbling walls, andthe H.T"^ fortunes the blush, the heft-white and the d^d grey ash of the peat-fire. He sighed now and then with infinite despondency; once or ^ce he Dshawed his melancholy vapoTs. ^ve a Ent hL'h ^""l f°'^"d °n the oaken floor ^th a bent head, a bereaved countenance, and sat down again, indulging the passionate void that comes to a ^^Z"f °^ u' J?y^', it? hopes, and loves, and only mournful recollection left. A done man I Not an the wT ' °.k*.kT *" ^''^"'7' ''"* ^ 'Jone ""an none the less, with the heart out of him, and all the inspi- ration clean gone ! ^ Count Victor's advent in the casUe had brought Its own bitterness, for it was not often now tiat A SENTIMENTAL SECRET. M5 Doom had the chance to see anything of the bi(» brave outer world of heat and enterprise. This gallant revived ungovernably the remembrances he for ever sought to stifle— all he had been and all he had seen, now past and gone for ever, as Annapla did not scruple to tell him when the demands of her Gift or a short temper compelled her. His boyhood "{the dear woods, by the reedv river-banks, in the hiU-clefts where stags harboured, on a shore for ever sounding with the enchanting sea — oh, sorrow I how these things came before him. The gentle mother with the wan beautiful face, the eager lather looking ardent out to sea — they were plam to view. And then St Andrews, when he was a beiant of St Leonard's, roystering with his fellows, living the life of youth with gusto, but failing lamentably at the end ; then the despondency of^those scanty acres and decayed walls; his marriage with the dearest woman in the world, Death at the fireside, the bairn crying at night in the arms of her fosterer; his journeys abroad, the short hour of glory and for- getfulness with Saxe at Fontenoy and Laffeldt, to be followed only by these weary years of spoliation by law, of oppression by the usurping Hanoverian. A done man I Only a poor done man of middle age, and the fact made all the plainer to himself by contrast with his guest, alert and even gay upon a fiery embassy of retribution. It was exactly the hour of midnight by a clock upon the mantel; a single candle, by which he had made a show of reading, was guttering all to a side and an ungracious end in a draught that came from some cranny in the ill -seamed ingle -walls, for all that the night seemed windless. A profound still- ness wrapped all ; the night was huge outside, with the sea dead-flat to moon and pulsing star. He shook off his vapours vexatiously, and, as he had done on the first night of Count Victor's coming, he went to his curious orisons at the door — the orisons of the sentimentalist, the home-lover. Back «4« WWII CASTLE. to the foot of the st^fr ih,^ ii°i . *^'''*=''*'"'«'" '"" his daughter^ r^rj^o he rod J*!." "PP"' ''^"'' '° Ol".Vs r^r"; he i'usTZ ?"*'°'' '"'j''"^ *» »>« a;,jo„..oo.' Nre-t'S-/-f?.r"&tX- sluts thrstair^'e'^ir T"'^'', ^°""' Victor door, which he oJnedwfthatT'^A "^ "" °='''*" a wild flurry of wWs d^ ,rt^^ !t^' -^^ ^^ *"*=■■«>' the light ofthe cTndlP 1^ '^^ '"'''"°''' ^^^ hy the m!on a flo^k of bat/or h°^^ "^"'"""8 «»y« °f precipitous fli^t thronli, ,^^ ^^'^ '° '^ ^^en in broken roof ^ "^^ unglazed windows and a we?t"o^f to 'anVnS '" '^ ""•'=''^ °^ *»•« -=«» -" seemed to b^ the on^v A™?"'"'' ?' '=''^''*' ^hich parently .Tnce £^„ tftht^/rthf ca^tt to'^ F doSn^^ilffi/,^, .tenSt?th7* °^^ '90^^' light of the canHU nLk- ^' *?*' seemed, in the of Highland clot's t5's"lmroMhe™ ^"* ^ ^'''J appurtenances of the lost nLhl ^ * T"'? "?^'^'^' the dirk that had rou^seS^L^Ws'stpi^^^^^^^^^^ A SENTIMENTAL SECRET. 147 He drew them out hurriedly upon the floor, but Jjet with an affectionate tenderness, as if they were ^a ffi'^'u**^ " «"'*ty. and with eagerness sub- stituted the gay tartan for his dull mulberry Saxon habiliments, ft was like the creation of a man from alay-figure. The jerk at the kilt-belt buckle some- .hm.l/''""/^ i°u'''''''='i.*''«' ''"KKish spirit; hi. shoulders found their old square set above a well- curved back, his feet — his knees -by an instinct took a graceful poise they had never learned in the mean immersement of breeches and Linlithgow boots. As he fastened his buckled brogues, he hummed the words of MacMhaister AUaster's song : " Oh ! the black-cloth of the Saxon, Dearer fat's the Gaelic tartan I " ■' Hugh Bethune 's content with the waistcoat, is he ? he said to himself. " He is no Gael to be so easily pleased, and him with a freeman's liberty! And yet— and yet— I would be content myself to hare the old stuff only above my heart." He assumed the doublet and plaid, drew down upon his brow a bonnet with an eagle plume- turned him to the weapons. The knife— the pistols —the dirk, went to their places, and last he put his hand upon the hilt of a sword— not a claymore, but the weapon he had worn in the foreign field. As toolish a piece of masquerade as ever a child had tound entertainment in, and yet, if one could see it, with some great element of pathos and of dignity. 1-or with every item of the discarded and degraded costume of his race he seemed to put on a grace not there before, a manliness, a spirit that had lain in abeyance with the clothes in 'hat mothy chest. It was no done man who eagerly trod the floor of the ruined chapel, no lack-lustre failure of life, but one complete, commingling action with his sentiment. He felt the world spacious about him again; a summons to ample fields beyond the rotting woods and the sonorous shore of Doom. The blood of his 148 DOOM CASTLE. folk, that had somehow seemed to stay about his heart in mdolent clots, beean to course to every extremity, and gave his brain a tingling clarity, the wholesome mtoxication of the perfect man. He drew the sword from its scabbard, joying candle-hght and he felt anew the wonder of one who had drunk the wine of life and venture to Its lees. ^ He made with the weapon an airy academic salute a la Gerard and the new school of fence, thrust swift in tierce hke a sun-flash in forest after rain, followed with a parade, and felt an expert's ecstasy. The blood tingled to his veins; his eyes grew large and flashing ; a flush came to that cheek, for ordinary so wan. Over and over again he sheathed the sword, and as often withdrew it from its scabbard. Then he handled the dirk with the pleasure of a child, but always back to the sword, handled with beauty and aplomb, always back to the sword, and he had IrfiTJ?™' * ^^"^ °^ ''**^' "&*»*' '«'hen something startled him as one struck unexpectedly by a whip. 1 Here was a furious rapping at the outer door I 149 CHAPTER XVm. "loch sloyI" The rap that startled Doom in the midst of his masquerade m the chapel of his house, came like he mornmg beat of drums to his gue^t a storey that trouble brewed, dressed with speed, and vet with the coolness of one who has heard ^arums on menaced frontiers; took his sword in hand, hes" thit ;,'^'"^^'!fl'' °J'^'^' ^""l '^id it down agab ; A perturbing silence had succeeded the noisv summons on the oak, and Mungo, with a bold aspect well essayed, but in no accord with the remor of h.s knees and the pallor of l^s coun! tenancy stood, m dragging pantaloons and the gaudy Kilmarnock cap cocked upon his bald head at the stair-foot wth a flambeau'^in his hand. He couTt' vS' "'^^^' *° "^^'^ *"« --p-y of "Noo, wha the deevil can we ha'e here at sic an tr,it>J^ J "^ an irate sentinel; U the sentence Jnn n^ off unconvincingly, because his answer came Sut '" ^ peremptory summons from lnn'„ff'i^-,''-^Pj''" **'iP«red the little man, no longer studying to sustain his martial roh. He locked ISO DOOM CASTLE. quanda^. ' "° """^^ *° ^elp him out of his late ! " ^"'^ ""' *°° ' And the oor sae proverb: Se"r MungS"";aid^re'^ .'?°tV'^*H *''^ hu&d.^ "°' P--'"'y -soling to\'°So^- hearJ'^Jhe cuffomaX°"' ^'''5?' ^* '"^ ^ ^ave Victor. 'customary proceeding." said Count some one for admTss™"'"*''" ''■"""^ ^^^^^t °f losing i°sltmSfkin;°"'" ^f' ^ungo. his face ishmlnt. "^a^fhlf "^ ?u '°?'' "^ =°"'e ^ston- the Frenchman'^ han> w'^.^ """"'* *^^ ^°"'^ '" drew back thLb^o^.PH^;^''^"* another word he head. He wi^aui^l '?u '^°^''' ^"'l P"* °"t h's forth into thela^kS ^ "" *'''°"* "»'' P'"«=''«d he's L?:?^ re' doo°r' fel^ 'T" .^ ^^^P°" ''»<1 walls Hp J\ ,. '^ll '" thunder ng on the '^'s. He got one gl.mpse of the saJ cultUs. "loch sloy!" 151 appealed again to the De Chenier macer in h!. ances^try. and flung the flambeau Tt tr firsl"who The light went out ; he dropped at a bov's intuition upon a knee and lowered his &. Ov^?him in he otwfn%r-'"'* ^''' "^^^"^"'^' '°° cloTe upon' each thr/f • t'^e''- eagerness, and while they struggled at the stair-foot he drew softly back. Out in thf nieht Mungowa. led lugubrious in the hands of some "f lis httle'the baffl "Z'^'';' "^^ " """''"f"' sik'ce for a little, the baffled visitors recovering themselves with ? r'*^ of words, and mounting tL stair in nur^uk t°hem' ^Wh'"?. '^'y P^^^""'^^ *° haTe prSd them. When they were well up, he went to the no answer, and entered. ' ^ It was as he had fancied— his host was eone hi.: couch had not been occupied A stom. nf ^^ ' • swept through him ; he feltCsel^thaTLfeSb^ thing, a man of the world betrayed by a wickedness that ought to be transparent. They wUTn the nlot then, master and man, perhaps even-but no that was a thought to quell on the moment of its wakin. she at least was innocent of all these machinations' and upstairs now, she shared, without a doub "he ^^T °^ Annapla. That familiar of shades and witches that student of the fates, wi a noisy ^1 ^tef^^ir^?:^lsak£ sSenfirs" '""''' ""'' "'^"^ "Cammercy!^.^on He paused a moment, irresolute. 153 DOOM CASTLE. ButOhvia! but Olivia r hi f !!?*='""S- ^* ^^« Count Victor's at a R^h himS and the kn^ife^irH*''' """"^^^-^ "P°« "loch sloy!" 153 " rroM /• • said Montaiglon. " Pulling corks is the S?t;^'''=?^r' ^'^'T^Jo' such a warfare," aid he set himself almost cheerfully to number four. thU f»""'"^''A"'' ^^^ "°' '" '•'^ neck of the bottle : this ferment behind propelled him out upon the upTn'S' fen ^.ri'?'°"' ^\° •'^'J thrownTm elf upon him fe 1 with him on the floor. Both men recovered their feet at a spring. A moment's oanse tTenX^r*- ^ -^ries ofthldomesticTher Cm! h!« h Kr^'^!"^'""!" ^^^^ * hand pass rapidly ove^ his habilimen s and seek hurriedly for his throat, S on a sudden inspiration. What that preluded ^as 1iLhJ'7'= ^^ ^^"t^ *?" =°"1'1 feel the poignard It wa^ a wrestler's grip he sought but a wrestler hefound. for arms of a gfgantic strength wen^round him, clasping his own to his side and renderine Ws he"tlt b;i;h\''r"'.'"^^5'i«ion hissed in his^ei ,K1 i^'^"^"* f""^ panting; his own failed miser ably, and his blood sang in his head with the pressu of those tremendous arms that caught him to a ches. hke a cuirass of steel. But if his h\„ds were bound ^^/7 "^T- ^'^^•- t^ P'^"'* °"e ^^^s weight upon him, so that they feS H^h/nA This time Count Victor was uppeiiiost His hands were free of a sudden ; he raised the knife Is frll*':". breast heaving under him, but he hearf as from another world-as from a world of calm and fXr ~*^ ^°'", '^^ °"^'^ '" her room crying for her father, and a revulsion seized him, so that he hesitated at his ugly task. It was less th^n a second's ack ness, yet it was enough, for his enemy rolled free and td-^lW^'fT'- Mo"t-gJon seized him as he and 'lift if- °[u " T^* '^'^^Sed through his hands, and left him with a button. He dropped it with a W^hrfnll""'""'^ '"'}^.t '^'''^T'' *° find himself more irightfuUy menaced than before. 154 DOOM CASTLE. wrist th^thJu* '^^ ? •"?* •""' """l caught the blow HUfi '«. ?nly in time to check a second more :,m\T'^, ^^'f^^' ^'^ ^ead swam ; a moment Se^nt ?»nH n°f"^"^'°" ^^' ''^^'^ ^^'y fe^ from his pleasant land of France, in a phantom castle UDon a shadowy sea among savage ghosts. ^° " "Father I father!" S i/hthtd '""'' *'^ combatants ^ith a saw'jhat'^hlr^f'' ^t ffutual spasm, and Montaiglon saw that his antagonist was the Baron of Doom ! 133 CHAPTER XIX, REVELATION. with passion, were whol^'for 'g,u„?VictrZdS! his daughter. Olivia, stoo^ there at Lrside hS putting the knife unobserved behind him H» were going, and in a second or two more-^" ^ l„. '^ 1? ^"'■"^'1 ^ farce," said Count Victor "th^ lowered hgh^^,,,i„ ^ mistlLr-V./ « jws,' I_I_I just nussed the point of the joke," 156 DOOM CASTLE. c^t«"lf1S:1al'''*'"^«"«""«""«"-*- - the Olilfa '""'•< nh"T-^°"'' "''?i'»''«' »" «'°"g." cried rJ» , ?.'■ '* " * «t"P''« ♦'"'« °f morninR I And kinH l^?K ''f 1°"1- '° "P*" ♦" » summons of That kind without findmg out who calls?" tiv«i„ I HP * ' H^"' *''*' ^°'«'" said Mungo. far- tively looking again at Olivia. ^ so reldv «„^°^Tl''' ""^ ^°^" *'"'♦ '=°"'d command mv h T!f ^•"''! w acquiescence on the part of iJJc'reduiously " ^""'° ^°^''" -''^d ^-^ '• il' .^m" • "♦t"'' *?** ' " «pl'ed the servant desperately • It s mair than 1 can telf. All I ken is that I thoueL' thf„r»"/'"l"P°^"' '"'<* ^ a"°o it was a dafNHke thing to do but I pu-ed the bar. I had nae soone? dune t nor I was gripped by the thrapple and^ep' f^^-^' ^'=°5'?'« ° the blackguards that held me a' the time the ither three or four were -•" an^>!" '*"^''* ''™ ''y *''" '=°"" ''"d shook him •' Ye lie, ye Fife cat ; I see't in your face I " and to^th/^^H^ ^ *•? the single voice and its humility. Lid rn ,nf v^l™ P'"'^^,"'^ f°rth of this gentleman?^: t?on But ^r r ''"'^"y- ^' r^ °^^' this examini- h^ve rri.^ ♦ V'fuP'^"^^ °f the woman he would have cned out at the mockery of the thing. said n^m"'*'.T?' ""y «Planation, Montaiglon." ^ve i? Siivi» IJ°X'^^ ^"""^ *° "•« hall, I will filL °hvia, you will come too. I should have taken your hints of yesterday morninp and the ""Cm'TnH V'" '"'^'" "^^^^ »^^» unL-cessar?" Doom and his guest went to the salle: Olivia lingered a moment behind. " Who was it, Mungo ? " said she, whisperinclv to the servant. " I know by the face of yTtharyou are keeping something from my father." ^ Am I?" said he. "Humph! It's Fife verv soon for Mungo Byde, I'm tellin' ye." "^^"^ .. ?!!' ^i"" "'^ 't ? " she persisted. thaflnlllT*"''!' "?"•" "^'"^ he curtly; "and «iats all I ken aboot it," and he turned to leave i6o •JOOM CASTLB. yiih'^^^idi^.r %'A M"1f°." -id Olivia, you are tellinfXt is Lt he TJ^^ '^yjf}^^^ that to°"he had'dSSr'th''"*? '^r" *"« but- he picked if ^p"withoutf """? °^ "l" '»'«'"'»nt; turned to offer him a cLII '""°"'''«=""B ««- and "Our — our friends are ponp " ..ij l ., ■., ESSS^SSe^: it pleased MTt^^'^^^^^ o^f -in this costume " '"^'' '° ^" ■"« '" '^is an? off mTst hTp C'^"'"'' *° ''"^ ^^P'^^'-". surhTtrouU¥o:;rvtt>">'°"K' '^•'^ -- -* ■" to let you know last nilfi/? '^''^* ' '"'^ "X best the law of Wj-e tlr t- • ^*u? J""' ""»* he breaks Highknd tartan if ic^^f'" ''"^^a" ^'ffair of our it in an eve^KanJthe'bftsTn"*^''"^'' 't "^"'"^ are too blind to know wLf u , • ^''^P*' upstairs play-acti„,^oKran^,^^-;|^J-^^^^^^^^^^^ REVELATION. I6l " Mv eoo I \' ». i ,1 ' \,"" »!' Tered hand. Need I be . Ih,., , ;'r.;;r^ I ave VSiviLVS' w. too. ''' C^unfvictor. observed/ he ownrf *h? ^^^ 'nnocent. As yoy hospitality." ^ *^^ •*°°'" w'th an excess of " "SJ°'"^^ K aVlTerE'Jll^e^^^^ '='"'^'- surpffi;^ ^'^^ * Macferiane?" arK-o„taiglo„, A„d/s° tt' theStE?'"- , " t^^'' '^ '=°«in of " Spiking of bats f">^ lost between them." he diFnot fiint at hi, ''"""Sht Count Victor, but am glad." sa% he " heylnth?'' "'^^'^' ^ t-me; this time here's a LnlenTr","^^'""^ '^* the button. souvenir, and he showed unforgS?" ''""'^'^"^ '--^«. conspicuous and ing'ft ?; wit'hlSr'"^'" ?."ir ^ «--■ '-"- ShTf Jl ^^ 't. please ? " sa d Olivia shgXt!:i:\;"lo'ol'mte'c5o" f ^ VT""'^' '-«<^ Ii?ht, paled withlome emA^r'^^' '^ "» '''^ «<=°"ce. 4.h sKghtly tremwl"! fi™°"' ^"^^ g^ve it back not so'r4?a^i^toiri' ^"<^''^"'>'- " ' - say Good night?" ^ ^^' ^ '^'''•' y°" ^i" let me REVELATION. 163 ^She s«aed to Count Victor with a face «ost her affectionately ^^^ '°°'" ''« '°oked aft^ CHAPTER XX. AN EVENING'S MELODY IN THE BOAR's HEAD IKN. If^i»?*u ^^^H ^""' f""^ ^ 'ts fine comomen flTLZ, r"''u * *""'8;h town, but custom made ThJ-V" °[t^^ upper class in the community J J\^^ -^^^ ""^^"^ met their clients and cozened them mto costly law pleas over the L^Cj jug or chopme-; the through-going stranger took h^ pack there and dwelt cheaply fn the ^attics that ooked upon the bay and on thi^little harbour where lc3lin°'f "^^ '^^ '^'"eing tide, waiting thi goodwill of manners m no hurry to leave a pirt so ^lurmg; m its smoke-grimed public-room sSot^ ftoquented full of loud tales of Moving; and eveffi retiree of MacCaikn was not averse from an ^ven! ir g s merriment m a company where no restraint of the castle was expected, an/ his Grace was men tioned but vaguely as a personal pronoun. ihere was m the inn a sanctum sanctorum where only wore allowed the bailies of the burgh,^ 7^^ man of position perhaps, from the landward ^t, or the hke of the Duke's Chamberlain, whoVas m thtir h^"^'- ^r' ^°'"^ ^^^ '^""•P^"^ °f honest men of thP h r' "^^'"f """»««i°n- Here the bottle was of the best and the conversation most genteel- otherwise there had been no Sim Macxfggart in the company where he reigned the king. It was "HIXJDV ,N THE BOAR'S HEAD ,NN. x6s -^rt^^To^Jr sr'' '^^p-^*-"^- one cheapened the affabihw anH .'''^''" °' ^'^'^""^ fellow with malistra 21. "h ^ °"^ """'* ^ ''^'1 tho"j n%rs X iTe iiori ^^^ "\^ ''^ -'-•"«. humour and moJL^hP.Tl ^°\^'' ''"^"'ies of the brassy cry of trum^lfrl-*^!^', *''='* sti"ed like and his ^llyfhis fatdfst Pv '°^'"="'" °^ "'^ f^"' the scurviest And ,i e^'cuse for any sin except will hea71he echo of Tv^f- *''f.''"^^°'^" ^°'^ where he performed iti^ '",*''^* ^"'^h town hummed oVS b^ o H f^ft™ r"^"'' '" "^'"dies •nagic has beTmaTe the st^^ff ^f ""'"/^ "'^'^'^' «^ children we have^hetrH th °^ J^V^}'' ^ that as strument irt the sDrW «,„.!■ 'T*^ °^ ^™°n'« i"" white-hay-gatherinr o^rZt ''^"/^" ^'="t t^^'^ house fire. ^' ""^ '"'^ ^^8^°*^ for the school- spi^rdlf whS^Kate pTt'"' ^='"*- f-" '»"= tfce ChamberTairwent to *^"^ "^' ^"""^ ''^^ ^°"«. hearts. It was a ^a^nn^f "m" ''^"^ =*'"°"g easy the eve of Srreven v^t fh^''*''f *''°"S'^ °" stubble-field and of fruIfJl/^ f^ perfume of the breathed all about the X rv „7l'"^ ?^"'^*'°" Before the windowVnf th^" ^1.°'^'^^'='^^''^" Mor. placid, and Dunchu.rh "? '''^ '',^>' '^^ warm and beyond irvague re 'ote ^°^"T='"*'"'^' ^"'^ the hills seemed to swfm in a^™? " ""^"IJ'i^ ^" ^^ ^^o^;'. made to shutter it and hr;„„ *k ? , magistrate the faster. '^ ''""« "'^ l"""' of Bacchus all "Hold there, Bailie 1" cried the Chamberlain. i66 DOOM CASTLE. criLrrofromanc^S curi''^^"^*^^ ^°'- ^^- their unprofitable d1slourr^°"';?''i'"y *° ^"="« discipline and for i^.^ !u °''^'' ''^'"'^^ ^n^ session surreVer^d to fhe Sv ofTh"**"^"' ^''^ ^'"d"*- oater world, so va^nt^of i- "'^''*- ^'^ ^*'" *»•»* d^n|SSttStiSe^^ ■■" '"^ ^''^^^ -^ the proper IS of thet 'tK?** ""• ^* ^'^ pipe of birds in dewl tWckl^i t^P'"""' ^^^°'«S to«:hed by melancZll • H, ' ^^™^ ^^^ someway -nongthemrhodldnoHnhifh """f "° '"^ '''«'^ thrt have been heard for ^*'*''^P*='*'*«^°'ds milking-folds where womln S^"^/?*)""^ i" hillside against the ki^e and j^^alC h''' "i^'^'^y ^''^^^s be^Lth^^ratr'^!,'^''"!" of gold^r^Akaps oten-^---- S. Stti-rdt^ go?ha^JlKm,Slte""^'^«'^''- Up he table where the bStk lav 5'^ and turned to the lights, as one mi-h^Ho ncK^ j ^"^"^ '""'^ °"t for ««. and i"; tSe HLhI^n!?lf °^'' womanly weak- should like him -Ul the Inrf ''tt'^ ^^^^ *>'« ^'ends «^t and sh;;re;"totnfeS S: ''^^^ <^-Play of senti. ofitrii^VAreoT^"!""''^^"" have the skill " Is't ^e t S'' " sa d"?h °^J^fy admirafon. differently " Ynnr kI A ■ ""^ Chamberlain, in- better ti4 I 1^°"/ ih^ne^ni^. ^^^^" '° ^'^'^ MELODV IN THE BOAR'S HEAD INN. 167 that too. bur t^s mo~S ^ *" .^ Problem; "ifs the time and uneTp£ r':!*' '* ^ ^''^ «^"g°f myself, though I hli^T; J ?i "° S^eat musicianer th^now-with the S wilt" '""T'" *;^* ^^'^ " Give rs a r?„t Facto":^"* nH ' " ^^ '^' °^««- gathered, the candks w^re^inf 't '^^l" '•^"^ night was to begin ^ *' '''^ ambrosial somiTkh'lre TnfSr'''^/"""'? '''^^°'"P-"y-at cheeksT aV otheTeaier tn'.f ''"*'.r"* ^^"1°" tfce^ and mkke theTeakefcll^k ^^ '^'' '°^' "'°'^"* taiL'^YsTthr'samSu'/V"^''^* f.?°^ '-»*- best that Sim MTragl^rt thTt^f " ^' ^'''^ ">« things, can be doing flndstUltr' '"^ H^' and''sr^ht.'LSnd^"omr°°l^^^ ^''^"' '^" brows, an^ his face mortpS^h^'theXdl '^''^ It customar Iv — " a littl» i ^ "^" known better for us/^'TakemvworHl ""T u*""'*^ '^ t^e hit in the evening and^hTlilt'."' ^^ i^"V ^"'^t honest thoughts wirt^ us i«^! °I' ^■■''l„<=ahn and and chorus.and rve trkd t^m K^" ^' '''" '»"* forbid that Sim MacTal^trt il i^?'''- ^"* ''^aven in his middle age ^■^^^ '''""''^ '""> t° preaching ac;Sd^^":^Jsycopir ""''' ^°" ^^^' ^-'-." inl^:s?m^e™t'^''f/^ird^„^,;*^ ^^P'y. ''^'f "what are yearlings ^t'tek'^r^st/i;^ A-^^^^ P-ay a strathspey to which" thV cS^m^^nyt ^f fru^ ft:^ ?^5««ifS!*«^i: I68 DOOM CASTLE. K„S'=to*^:/i-jJh feet bejow the table. •ir^'i^^^t^i^^ t'-e P-ost. end ^h aye ^tt" "^'^ ^•"' MacTaggart. "The tune, I tS,!!^^P?^ „'^j; ^^y- , RafL a taSg too much of the psdm in -^ft ^ i'^'^J"^* « ''"'e everyday use. but mln? itlriL^'^^^^ -^"^ ^""""on then on a hint from „ ? T? "^ curiously; " and :• The Devlll t K^n ^ '5°"'''^^''^ P'^^ Het2rt^ '"IP^ °f Halfo^e'en! ^'^^ '"''''' r^ :^n^ 'nd'"a'tgi;SS?/?'^ '^^ °f the character of the ne;<,hv5P^ ''^4 '"—a starven with cheap broochestnS^bab,^ ^""t^' ^" ^^eckeS the hand tl^e little child of hV^ ""i.^^"' heading by dead He said neSll^'rd t't^^/^r""^^''^"^ the door expectant-a reD^l,.w ^?°'^ J"«* within tent, good clothS^^^the weU fed Jf'T''"'^^^' ~»- bel.eve to love thdr felWs ' *^ ^" ^''° '"^''e -^£V&nf^^^on""tt^ '"^^ «-•«« sharply. no one of them hid 'fnVnH^"" """"ents of carouse • in his blue coTt, aid tb te/T-*\^ °'d ^-"^ wh;te-haired, ba^refool^anl largeieV'' ''"'^ °"^' 3n.ilPngTpo1f;%-^^--'" -•'^'Kite tenderly. kifnplilr'rc-o^^iSdL" r ^"^ --'^- anl'criS-'u-S'X r/nX^ ^V^f ^ *» the door chopine of ale, Baldy " 1^ u 7?u ""'" ''^^e a "•ometimes it', all ^'e l^^e" k*.'"' "''^ '''^^' me aiJierence between hell-fire '.^mi imti •^sianxc". MELODY IN THE BOAR'S HEAD INN. 169 studiously concealed frnT^ri, ''PP*^' ^^ * """t'on into the tegPs pokl "^ *''" ^°'"P'«y' «»"e silver He^d"^ fnnP^" 'm* '*"""'" Sfl»clim' XJO CHAPTER XXI. COUNT VICTOR CHANGES HIS QUARTERS. Sat K^n!' ""^ ^'^ ^^ ''^- *° ^oo'- Castle "vfhe'V'?'^ '^T^ '^^ gajsin were'to"i:'rfcd love ^e"r hilt"*'' '^^". ""^ ^""'-^ •'^-^ ' Wded ir iranAaip-SEe a^'^^tfe removing himself elsewhere. There wasXano^he? consideration as pregnant, yet more deMcate the traditions of his class and family as well as hU natural sense of honour compelfed his separation from the fascinating influence of the Sous woman whose affectfons were pledged in Ser quarter. In a couple of days he had fallen de^m- s^t "r" J""", '"'"'• °"^'^-^ precipitation that S nT/u""" °-', '" ^"y.man of the world wh^was scores ^{°Tt\fT'^ ^^c ?<=q»aintance w"^ scores of Dame Stratagems, fa r intrirueuses anH puppets without hearts Wow their mS^ices dma charmed by her freshness, and thelimple COUNT VICTOR CHANCES HIS QUARTERS. ,7, frankness of her nature, with it< a^^ su ^s Ti^. s"""" t;r„rc^'s sidered his removal a relief ^' °''"°"^'y ^on- Behold him, then, with his quarters tak^n i„ ♦!, Boar's Head Inn, whence by g^l, * k th. I ^1 gang of Edinburgh had some>inn?rK r j * '^S'*' degree VfhisSest thereTn '^'^' ^'^ '°** °° ««'« and rSe"* "xhi".' ^'«'°'^* JT" at once a blow to w^ OHvi; il h* ,^^^'=°T''''"=<* ^'^ had helped withTer°t sSacroteSoUt SafT "^ ^^"^ one she knew \J7„_ •! . tnougnt that here was thea-:/.-s:;»fc^^^^^^^^ preT^^JJ; e™.r^.' ^'' ^"^ gent&n^Tn'^t tif gen;e^; -s o^^is'ufc^^:, a r very well be permitted, and it wouH not hi ,7.^ grasped n,i;t'yo!^°?fc;^iiS' J '^ Vt-y P™"'' t° thing to your consideration anH^^' '"'^ 1°^^ *""'=■ stanls u^n no ceremony "' "'^ ^""°" ^acTaggart buf XS'5.ri::S';,|ga.»* the conjunction. I am ravished, monsieur I " =0.-^ 1. .. „ Kiia=.i-S^S^^^- the^ fact that they aTin^ ''^^e "^^ - -eal wa^kTd 'aC S? br ' °nd ' the""p* °' ^''^ '"" -^^ Bailies were^left mou^^in'g" fo 'fhefS '"'' *"« of th^^X^LTofT/ml^ naf and Vation parts." Ld thL ChLSr^" Wh""^". •". '^^ who need not be more sMr?fi„i, ^^en the lady- me you had come to DrSf^ -f ^ mentioned-told come of a song at first Th^; T Ti t""* ^^e over- before. And nlw thaJl 1^^ ^ ''^r'^ '^^^'^ "^ y°" went, when I wL at n„n^ ^°"' ^ """"^ the story that Count V ctTlean^f ajrh?" .l"""" ^^^^ ^S^ had failed him. mi£"haie lade Tnl^'^fZ'^ ^'^' a mailre d'exrime Sir r il ""J^^ '°'^"n« as with the rapie^elf but iT ='?. ■"j^-ff^^^nt hand that was its masto." ' ^^^ ''''^'^ t° ^ '^ man " '^°" '*'" ^"^y g°°d." said Montaiglon ; " and y.t •"•"OCOW MSOIUTION IBT CHART (ANSI and ISO TEST CHMT No. 2) ^m^tJ^ ^' APPLIED IM/1GE In ^S-^ 1653 Eo»t Mai-i Str««t S— ,^ "OchMter, New York I46M iiu ^S= (''6) 482-OJOO-Phon. "^ :— SB .' 6} 288 - M89 - Fax 174 DOOM CASTLE. such a reputation, exaggerated as I fear it may be, IS not, by my faith ! the one I should desire under the circumstances that, as you have doubtless further heard, bring me here." "About that, M. Montaiglon, it is perhaps as well that the Duke of Argyll's Chamberlain should know nothing at all. You are a wild lot, my gallant Jacobites "—he laughed softly as he spoke. " Be- tvveen ourselves I have been more than bottle friends with some lovable persons on your side of the house, and you will be good enough to consider Simon MacTaggart no politician, though the Duke's Cham- berlain ex officio is bound to be enemy to every man who will not swear King George the best of monarchs." " From what I know of affairs in Europe now, and for all our heroics of invasion," said Count Victor, " his Majesty is like to remain in undisputed posses- sion, and you may take my word for it, no affair of high politics is responsible for my being here Monsieur himself has doubtless had affairs. I am seeking but for one man " " Drimdarroch," said the Chamberlain. " So the lady told me. Our Drimdarroch will not provide very much interest for a mattre d'escrime," and he laughed as he pictured PetuUo the writer shivering before a flash of steel. " Ah ! you speak of the lawyer : Doom told me of him, and as he was good enough to interest himself in my lodging in this place, I must make him my compliments at the earliest and tell him I have settled down for myself in the auberge." " To that much at least I can help you, though in the other affair I'm neutral in spite of^my interest in any ploy of the kind. There's Petullo's house across the way; I'm on certain terms with him; if you care, we could see him now." " Leplus tut sera le mieux ! " said Count Victor. The Chamberlain led the way. 175 CHAPTER XXII. THE LONELY LADY. When PetuUo's work was done of an evening it was dL^hf^'"^ ° '" ^'*'*. ^'' ^"'^ i" their huge Tnd thTlom^eftt -i" P'^.'=*'«'"g the good husband and surh r„ '"'*"^' T ^"."Pright zealous manner, such as one may read of in the books. A noble Ir^l,.- ° ^"' ^"' ^''t*'^ '^^ &°°d of it when hearts are miles apart and the practitioner is a man of rags ' Yet there he sat strewmg himself with snuff to klep himself awake, blinking with dim eyes at her, wonder^ ng for ever at her inscrutable nature, conversing •mprovingly upon his cases in the courts, or upof his growing fortune that he computed nightly Tike a miser. Sometimes, in spite of 'his drenlh n^ of 1^^ .\ •"'•k'^^P compelled him, and, humped in his lug-chair, he would forget his duty, yet waken at her slept ! She looked-and loathed herself, that she- ,hn^!!5 1° ^'m"!"'--'? '^^^t in spite of all her sin ~'t. f K ^"'i ""'^^ ^ '^^^^ «='"• The evenings Ki";;- f f°" '^V'^''*^ ''°"": hut for the window trt =KW t i ^'T ^^^ '""^"hus, or at least stood up and shrieked and ran into the street h.nn '°l the window! From there she saw the Sh ra cTen^.h''; ^^'r''""' ^'"'^ '^^ hosky deeps of bhira Glen that she knew so well in dusky evenings withThe man^ij,'' '"'^."l"^* '""' *'^"^"t' ""her fa^Tc^ with the man she used to meet there. Often would 176 DOOM CASTLE. ^nH fe T Z •'f ' "P?". ""'* "'^^"ed atomy of quirks tnl- tff '?^^'?V^nd '^t her bosom pant to think t°-n Rht !— to-night I— to-night ! t"" y '"'n" When the Chamberlain and Montaiglon were w,c°„"f K*^ f" "°."''' ''^^^ "■'='» a'°"d with joy U was not hard in that moment of her elation to under- stand why once the Chamberlain had loved her. beside the man to whom her own mad young am bition manacled her, she seemed a vision of bfaut^ none t.ie worse for being just a little ripened. ^' "YouTfinrth"'"-"'"'^ "^^ lawyer with effusion. You 11 find the mistress and me our lones and neariy tmng o' each other's company." ' The Chamberlain was disappointed. It was one hfm fnT"'"^'r'''="A'' PetuUowas used to seek iliTblndXTimtr '^ ''^•^ ^^^^^'^^ *° '^^ •>- he"^"^m'"'* P'^'T °r^happy hearth, eh?" said he. I m sweer to spoil it, but I'm bound to lose ai^r^wL r^i"? *° y°" ™y g°od friend M. Mont- hIIT' ^ }^^ '^^^" ",P '"^ 1"^rters at the Boar's t^tt ^t'"i.'"^y ? '?^^^ *he pleasure of introduc- ng to you M. Montaiglon?" and Sim MacTaggart looked in her eyes with some impatience, foffhe hung just a second too long upon*^his fingers' and pinched ere she released them She was delighted to make monsieur's acquaintance Her husband had told her that monsieur was staying farther up the coast and intended to come to town Monsieur was in business ; she feared times were not what they were for business in Argyll, but the air was bracing-and much to the same effect, which oflr l!£'^ ° "^'"^ merchant gladly into the hands ot her less ceremonious husband As for PetuUo, he was lukewarm. He saw no prospects of profit from this dubious foreigner thrust Tionof^DT""' X'^'^ well-squeezed^Hent the baron of Doom. Yet something of style some s.gn of race m the stranger, thawed himl^ut' of his suspicious reserve, and he was kind enough to be THE LONELY LADY. 177 condescending to his visitor while cursine the man who srnt h.m ther. and the man who guided h^m They sat together at the window, and meanwhileTn fdloT ' °^'^' '°°'" " '°"^'y '^dy made shame" f kI' 2^' u™ ' 1 ^^,^ whispered, sitting beside him on behinTtK^ and placing the candlestick on a hable d^r„t rM";-= *''•" :' >,'* "''« "'-l times-the dea? aarlmg old times, isn t it ' " mfi'%"if''-""f'^ to the first of their liaison, when they made their love m that same room under the ve% nose of a purblind husband. ^ found .t easiest to get out of a response by a sigh that might mean anything. ^ ^ in^a^T "T^ *''^ loveliest hand," she went on, look- ing at his fingers, that certainly were shapely enoueh as no one knew better than Simon MacTaggarr " I don t say you are in any way handsome,"-her eves hanHr^^'.'''^i thought,!" but I'll admft to The hands,— they're dear pets, Sim." He thrust them in his pockets. " Heavens ! Kate," he protested in a low tone, and assuming a quite unnecessary look of vacuity for the rnT^W^^ ^Iff'^'l'^' ^h°Wd across the d°m-li? room at them, "don't behave like an idiot; faithfu wives never let their husbands see them looking Uke of our Znclf T''^ '^"S""- What do you think wn n?^^ '^ ^u^ ^ P.^^"y enough 'fellow, if you 11 not give me the credit." Jth^b ^'l^ood enough, I daresay." she answered Wm r^Lb k'h^ ^-'^^ " '"°'"""*- " ^ ^°"ld think ^hZ^Z u "*"■ y r,^- r^^ ^° '"""^ o"- two taller, a thi, ,„H^^» n""' '"'^ "'"'^"' '° ''°°t- But tell me I™-H V K ' ?^ "/^ '"°'^' S™; where has your lordship been for three whole days? Three wLle days, Simon MacTaggart, and not a word of explana! tion Are you not ashamed of yourself, sir' Do you know that I was along the riverside ^very night this week ? Can you fancy what I felt to hear your 178 DOOM CASTLE. te^welf'ra/°^*n■^°?'^ '" Ludovic-s room- if I was not th<>ri> tr, ni„i,* c • ^ cannot blame me you have rLd your cSvfrme t^ '^T '"^^^'"^ ously "' "'"' ^'^^''^ the ChamberfainTbigu- sitis' ^"l^ ""'' '"^''? another excuse this week He for' a"e'~7s'' "sfal;'"' ^as a new dTftnotion' there canT„'^,,^i-^,.r-'t^ it. Sim, but Chamberiain.! f fot t dea^ r^°",'" ^'"^ '"^^ fail to take alarm a° '°''^ ^'°"^ '=°"''l she' len'""'^on''?ai:in°;''"^ *'''* '""^i'*^"^'' '"«' Sim," you me?here "''"" ''^"g-g about that girl of Doom's " rLn.*l'"i^®'''^'jl ^"""^^ internally. sometimes looks .• ' «°° .fh„ THE LONELY LADY. 179 you see/to thfe'r g^ilf, "old ^ O^h 1%', fr'' all my faculties about me stilh" ^^' ' ^ ^^^^ VellLTLkinfhis'-lul-^°" '^' ''"'^^"'=''' "''^ Sim " *"' wfr"' ^^^''^ '^.''^ '^ : y°" make me desperate £ed "You if,' "r^' 'ikepoignards. herCm presTed me to ur^e\t"^ "/^ y?" ^'^^' »'"* ^h^ Who saw it m.?ht b"so"h»° '"''" Drimdarroch? when-when-rTLodman tP^ ^ ''u"^ ^°' "« free?" ^ goodman there — when I was i8o DOOM CASTLE. At last she checked him '=°"'''S"°"^'y restrained. sM"^Li^lL'"^"Pj'^' ''V^* '*'* t™e about the GoiT oh God? t?/t"*'' ^'T- '^° y°" ''«" 'h^° ? Oh beWd you f ' WhatTwror Kl ' '"'L^' ^^^ ' me. Sim !^ WhaHswr^rtK "^ ™^'f™' teU Sim 'ifs^^^^^rfo^^^ THE LONELY LADY. l8l y"u hate that man?" she askci "Why do suddenly. ruZfXrorch wrsctSd""?'^^ ''''' !'"=-''» hate nobody m v dear Knf „ /' " """"sher ? I for sin and folTy/' ^' '^'"'''P' ""'"etimes myself convi„td.'""Oh no".C''">'k'!'.^* "J'^"'" -'^ ^^e face you had a se"c°o d" V I hln^'oh""," '""^ from the door" ^*""° ''''" "'^"i ■•oupcd JJAdorable Kate!" said the Chamberlain, ironi- "ri/not &t£ ^s^ ^.^ "?;; "-d on her side. ofmarvellouscltb^aS'h-^fe with a voice ently across the room a her hu band ^'"r""' forget many thines Sim t ♦», u! l' ' " ""' to raise from the facke^f'h J *''°"«''* ^^^ '"a" I was would nave'sot Sfu e ' To ZTnTs^^^^^T tttr^^C'r^^^.f^rtrb t°°""°'°"^' '* - >''° eves? I'rr. .,«* • ^ tne first time, to see mv you. She could ne^ruStand m^i;^-^* ^T'' with all you promrsed1"'°" '''""''^ '^^ ■""'^ ♦» ^^' Z83 DOOM CASTLE. Madame IS smilinR into a mist; alas! poor M. PetuUo I thought Count Victor, seeing the lady standmg up and looking across the room, Kate, said the Chamberlain in a whisper, pull- ing unobserved at her gown. " I have something to say to you. " .Ja" -^^ 1°''" *«'*'" '" * transport, her cheeks reddening her eyes danring; poor soul I she was glad nowadays of the vei, crumbs of affection from aim MacTaggart s table. nill ''"?w„you are going to say Yes for to-morrow night, Sim. said she triumphant. " Oh. you are my^own darhng ! For that I'll forgive you every- V '! ^,^"^'f 1° ^? "° rnore nonsense of this kind. Kate, said the Chamberlain. " We have been fools —I see that quite plainly— and Tm not going to cariy It on any longer." 6 5" " That is very kind of you," said Mrs Petullo, with tne ring of metal in her accent and her eyes on fire. Uo you feel a great deal of remorse about it ? " I do, said he. wondering what she ws to be at next. woninT ^''"i Jv'^f ^y^ '"'■^ y°"^ conscierce would be the death of you some day. And if' to ^ametn^Trt'?-^"^ ''""'"^ °^" """^PP^ -*« Petuno'" ^^*^ Cameron— her I loved-but Mrs "Whom you only made-believe to? That is spoken like a true Highland gentleman, Sim. I'm to be dismissed with just that amount of politeness ^at will save my feelings. I thought you knew me ^*,.yKl ""• ^ Ju°"^'i' y°" ^°»''l ""ake a more whr>lT."1*'l.^° "'^* ^°' ^^^ dirty transaction when It had to be done, as they say it must be done some time with all who are in our position. As sure as death I prefer the old country style that's in the songs, where he laughs and rides away. But I'm no tool, Sim ; what about Miss Milk-and- Water ? Has THE LONELY LADY. 183 ^^^.u^^^.v.^t"""^ "^"^ ""'' ^ *°'««=''. «nd finding Sist;, irrx^-' ^"^ "-'' "^'p »■" '^ »"' r»,'lL^'?'-^°j '° ^'*"" 1"° "^ '=''*"«• Kate," said the Chamberlain desperately. Pctullo and the Count were still intently talking; the tragedy was in the poor light of a guttering candle. " A chance ? " she repeated vaguely, her eyes in vacancy a broken heart shown in the corners of her « Tu fr«.*"d'len ageing of her countenance. 1 hat s It, Kate ; you understand, don't you ? A liL'*^** ..' ^u* ^-^y "° '""Ser. I want to be a better ^f„ 7~7.4 \^^ sentence trailer* off, for the Chamber- illt?v.S '" """ '" '"'^ '"°^' "'"'^'"^ Jit. ^^^""^ '"/" ■ '!. ^^'^ *''*' *>«■■ ""I'tting and her nnd In °^"f '1 ^' '^P- *■" countenance hollow I to h! an >°'^h^^P"'e.abettermanl And am I to be anv the better woman when my old lover is urned -.gliteous? Have you no' a tLught at at for me when I'm to be left with him that^ not my actual husband, left without love. hope, or ^l respect? God help poor women I It s Milk-and- Water then; that's settled, and I'm to see you at the kirk with her for a lifetime of Sundays after this an honest woman, and me what I am for you that have forgotten me— forgotten me! I was as good as she when you knew me first, Sim ; I was not Taggart I •' ' ""^ ^"'^ ' ''"* ' ^°^^^ you.' Sim Mac' * 1^°^ Vi }}^t^'^ damnable." srM the Chamberlain to himself, there's nothing beats a whining woman ! " He was in a mo- al terror that her transports could be heard across the room, and that woul..' be to spoil all with a vengeance. "^ " God pity women ! " she went on. " It's a lesson. 1 was so happy sometimes that it frightened me and now I know I was right." " What do you say, my dear ? " cried out PetuUo across the room, suspiciously. He fancied he had 184 DOOM CrtSTLE. heard an ovcr-cager accent in her last words that were louder spoken than all that had gonrbefore Fortunately he could not make out he? face as he Sd wlih 'so'^'"' '"' ^°"'*^ '"'^'^ "-"• " Montalglon did with some surprise, a mask of TraRedv. I m giving Mr NfacTaggart my congraiulations on his coming marriage," said she quickly, with a iarc"u'r?er&iiry""''= '^"«''' ^"'^"'^ ^"-'^ "Oh I ifs that length, is it ? " said Petullo with a Y„,f °^ Kff'fi""?"- " Did I no- tell you. Kafe ? You would deny't. and now you have the h=«t authority Well well, ifs the way we a' maun gang, as the auld blin' woman said, and Ws wishing you the best o' luck!" He came across to shake hands, but the Chamber- lam checked him hurriedly. ^namoer- '! ^^^\i " ^'^ •'*• " Madame's just a little ore J^sTnoW/' ^'^*""°' "'"^ '""^* ^'"'° --^"o- Sis n." ^'. '*.u"'** ^^y'" s^'d Petullo. "Likely the fd"?Kl'''n"- ^*"' ^^ hasna a roost, and he the Fre^cht''' "^ ^'"PP^'^ °" reflection tha? In^l, f T u '^='.? ^" intimate of the family he seeing the pallor of his wife. "a^^^ ??l'' Y^ °'d Vellum who clyped to vou " said the Chamberlain to the lady ^ ' h»r L'f •* *.'l P'*'"'i: "°.*'" *^'d she. " He brought her here just to put Ker in your way and punish me Oh, heavens I'll make him rue for that ! And do if I teirhlr ^ I .u^ Mim-mou* not be shocked If I tell her the truth about her sweetheart?" \ ou would not dare ! " said the Chamberlain. fashion that showed she appreciated the triumph onier argument. "What would I not do for my " Well, it's all by, anyway," said he shortly. THE LONKLY LADY. i«5 "No. with you." said he brutally. "Let us be friendji. Rood friends. Kate," he went on! fearing A.S should too seriously arouse her. " l" he hf KTniy!:^!?*^'' •" *"'= "°^'''' -y 1-: itt wiih%b^°""Ti" "■'^^ ki" r. "K"'"'" *^id "he S?m .^ P"^ ^''" ** "° friendship after yon. Sim, and you know .t. You are but lying again Oh, God! oh, God! I wish I were dead! You alUalerbe^re::!"'' ^""°" ^''^'^Taggart ; and if m^i^ TV"^ 1?i ^ ^°'"'' °f ^^hat I 'night say in •ny °wn defence," he protested. ^ i, n^ tt' "^k'' r^r^y '" y"*"" °wn defence ? There you wy ? " ^ '* °^ ^" """**= ^°' y°"- What .<«W retort"' hi ?a"!f h-P"*''^'*.*" "" °*"'°"S enough ^u° \i. . f^"*' '°^'"g patience for nov it was plain that they were outraging ery eti tte bv so long taking together wlile^othe« we: b the room "I was to blame, Heaven knows ! I'm not denymg that, but you -but you " And Sigete" "'"'°"''^' '°"^''* '" ^'' «=«='» fo^ th« Mre Petullo's face flamed. "Oh, you hound!" she hissed ';you hound!" and then^she laughed ^l^'iiTl^f^-f l"'^''"* '1 '^' Sentlema/for ^ was. TW • °1. ■""«*' r "ess! What a brag I»„ kf ^** '* ^^^ gentleman for you !-to put the blame on me No, Sim; no. Sim; I wS no betray you to Miss Mim-mou', you need not be *Tl°^ that; I'll let her find you out for herself h^t'e ft "Lrhe';. ^°° ''''■ '^'' °' ' ' ^-"- ' T^n^lS'Zr'' ""'' Pet.I.o''fell^in''a%ra i86 DOOM CASTLE. " Lord, what's the matter ? " cried her husband ri^F 1. "* ^"^ ^°°^^^ '" from the first." and stantIv"'e:n'hh.'HT^'^ '="^^'* •"« f^t- th^ con*? stantly embroiled him m such affairs. *!, ■"j"!"",*^* '^'^'' ^^ and the Count were told the lady had come round, and with exprSs of deep sympathy they left Petullo's dwelHng iSj CHAPTER XXIII. A MAN OF NOBLE SENTIMENT. hold. With a rMi. Petullo's distracted house- untappy womanWate r^ f ,r'' ""^"^^ °f the the e^Le he knlw fne'v£br nf °' 7^'^'' '°' the Chamberlain's facp fnr f^ ■ ?^ ''°"''^ "°t see the tide, unseen wifr' • ^''^ "'^''t was dark now appear^^to strive tttLfL^n-f: ^SdJrS youS^orarett'^a' mor'fl"' ^^^ ^^ '* ^^ band. By God? I wouW Hp It. ?"*""° *''^ ''"=■ he were thirty years voun~r a^ ''?"=" <^«ath if else than sawdust i^?s"fr' ^^'^ ^^'t °'" ^"ything at this burgh!-ike the Vr?^^ !"/''"'■"' ^"^ '°°k .it; rural, ploddinf unamb^tn' ''•' ^°' ^^^ ''"g'^ts of last place on eLrfh you m ihf ' 'Snofant-and the so peetiful as that in thp?.^ m'^I'' '" ^°' a story for that woman ; I saw ht f^ ''"^^'f- ^^^' ^ae vhen we went in first Tho-^Ih*;^ ^"^ "''" ^ '^"^P 'D nrst, though she put a fair front i88 DOOM CASTLE. i^i 1 on to us. A woman in a hundred ; a brave woman few like her, let me tell you, M. Montaiglon, and heartbroken by that rat she's married on. I could greet to think on all her trials. You saw she was raised somewhat; you saw I have some influence in that quarter?" For his life Count Victor could make no reply, so troubled was his mind with warring thoughts of Ohvia betrayed, perhaps, to a debauchee sans heart and common pot-house decency; of whether in truth this was the debauchee to such depths as he sug- gested, or a man in a false position through the stress of things around him. The Chamberlain went on as in a meditation. " Poor Kate ! poor Kate ! We were bairns together, M. Montaiglon, innocent bairns, and happy, twenty years syne, and I will not say but what in her maidenhood there was some warmth between us, so that I know her well. She was compelled by her relatives to marriage with our parchment friend yonder, and there you have the start of what has been hell on earth for her. The man has not the soul of a louse, and as for her, she's the finest gold I You would see that I was the cause of her swound ? " " Unhappy creature ! " said Montaiglon, beginning to fear he had wronged this good gentleman. " You may well say it, M. Montaiglon. It is im- proper, perhaps, that I should expose to a stranger the skeleton of that house, but I'm feeling what happened just now too much to heed a convention." He sighed profoundly. " I have had influence with the good woman, as you would see ; for years I've had it, because I was her only link with the gay world she was born to be an ornament in, and the only one free to be trusted with the tale of her misery. Well, you know— you are a man of the world, M. Montaiglon— you know the dangers of such a correspondence between a person of my reputation, that is none of the best, because I have A MAN OF NOBLE SENTIMENT. 189 ws"tio„ %'^y,P°*="*« t.''?" most, and a lady in her Cr" A ^ a g°s community this, long- lugged and scandal-lovmg like all commun ties ff tssize; It IS not the Faubourg St Honor6 where intrigues go on behind fans and never a^eye cocked or a word said about it; and I'll not denfbut there have been scanda ous and cruel things said ab^u? the lady and myself. Now, as God's my judge—" Pardon, monsieur," said the Count. eLer to save this protesting gentleman another 6e'/, J; "I quite understand, I think,-the lady finds you a Jj,u'' Th"?'*- .'^"V^""^ •'T "'nessLs unm^^Ld good mln!" ^ ^°'" "^"* °"^" t'°"W« ^ " But a merely middling-good man M Mnnf aiglon," cried the ChamberlliS ; "you" XwS's" a difference. Lord knows I lay no^Lim to a cj^ tal virtue .1 In this matter I have no regard for my own reputation but just for that very reason I^m anxious about the lady's. What happened Tn thS room there was that I've had to do an ill thing and make an end of an auld sang. I'm rarely diS;reet l^n°Z '?■"''*■ 5f- Montaiglon, but it had to be shown this time, and as sure as death I feel like a murderer at the havoc I have wrought with that good woman's mind I " ^ Tn^L^KPP^'*/'i!^u^"'y= ^ lumpwas in his throat. In the beam of light that came through the hole in ^ha^hl" °^ ^ •*?"'f *?^yP^«^«d, MSntaig'on saw that his companion's face was all wroulht with wretchedness, and a tear was on his cheek The discovery took him aback. He had un- generously deemed the strained voice in the darkness beside him a mere piece of play-acting, but here was proof of genuine feeling, ^ll'the more convinc! ing because the Chamberlain suddenly brisked up and coughed and assumed a new tone, as if ashamed of his surrender to a sentiment. " ^ ^^w w"" compelled to be cruel to-night to a woman. M. Montaiglon," said he, "and that is not igo DOOM CASTLE. my nature. And— to come to another consideration that weighed as much witi. me as any— this un- p easant duty of mine that still sticks in my throat like funeral-cake was partly forced by consideration for another lady— the sweetest and the best— who would be the last I should care to have hear any ill of me, evsn in a libel." A protest rose to Montaiglon's throat; a fury stirred him at the gaucherie that should bring Olivia's name upon the top of such a subject. He could not trust himself to speak with calmness, and It was to his great relief the Chamberlain changed the topic— broadened it, at least, and spoke of women in the general, almost cheerfully, as if he delighted to put an unpleasant topic behind him. It was done so adroitly, too, that Count Victor was compelled to believe it prompted by a courteous desire on the part of the Chamberlain not too viv- idly to illuminate his happiness in the affection of Olivia. " I'm an older man than you, M. Montaiglon," said the Chamberlain, " and I may be allowed to give some of my own conclusions upon the fair. I have known good, ill, and merely middling among them, the cunning and the simple, the learned and the utterly ignorant, and by the Holy Iron ! honesty and faith are the best virtues in the lot of them. They all like flattery, I know " " A dead man and a stupid woman are the only ones who do not. Jamais beau parler n'ecorcha la langue!" said Montaiglon. " Faith, and that's very true," consented the Chamberlain, laughing softly. " I take it not amiss myself if Its proffered in the right way— which is to say, for the qualities I know I have, and not for the imaginary ones. As I was saying, give me the simple heart and honesty ; they're not very rife in our own sex, and " " Even there, monsieur, I can be generous enough," said Montaiglon. " I can always retain A MAN OF NOBLE SENTIMENT. igi .< 7i, ,. P^" '°° """<=•> from it." kno^fhir-"' ' " ^"^ "'^ Chamberlain. " Do you when I was in fT °"" ^* ^''^ J^^"''^' College "4 1, "'**'" France years ago?" ^ then ? " IZ Z^ T''^'' 'T^ ^'""^ '" "y ':°"nt'y. I^fu ■ I T c ^ ^.°""* ^'th awakened interest a "I ti"u ^ *?P'" ^"" ^° abstruse a" sex ' for well I knew your uncle's friends, thouKras it T B l^/u *'°"ta'Sfon, but I'm putting that off till ^ Did you know Balhaldie > " nl=,„2r ^- ''"?^ the inside of my own pocket I I've played piquet w.' the old rogue a score of times ]n the Sun tavern of Rotterdam^ Pardon me SiZ buttTr^Tt^^' ""^"^ ^» intimate o^yourow/ the sl^= ^""« h°n|st. the Scots gentlemen living on the Scots Fund m France in these days were what I and 't/^°^''"^' °f the Hielan's. T^errwerrjood and bad among them, of course, but I was there °n the entourage of one who was no politician which was just my own case, and I saw but the conS PoluL' Inth°""*P""'? '" '^^'' convivial hous wor^ ?f , *^^^^ "^y^ ^ ^°uW scunner at the verv r^ to^o°"thror " -.1! '''^' '"^^"^' M- MontalgfoZ j^rSfhTterft;^^^^^^^^^^ 198 DOOM CASTLE. straint; he seem^d^tnh^u'l-^'\^^^^^^^-"SiTre. Frenchman. Count Vkto7w?,^K' ^K^"^ 'j"^ *° *he transported to his nat vlchv a// v'^ '^'* r"^' days of galliard. Whv in fh» ""^ ^'^" '^''■''ff cause he had come here m' ^"'^•*/'« J^'=°bite ardour, had b. fallen ^if^"^^ ^"'' ^ y°"th's memory! ' ^ '* ^^'■^' '"'o a dusk of Dnmdarroch'^n the"Ur:e Ty^^^'^SI'-"?^ "^ was^'hrt 'mrtL^'-S t/^^^?^^^^^^ laughed at the idea "yL^^ ^""^ '>°^?" He clannishness offset if'yZ'^^'!!?^^^' ^^^ brokfln'^C^uV^Tcto^r Srlv'°"°"^'- '"°"^'-^'" woman basely betrayed ■ vnnr ^" . ^'^^^ you a regarding the sex muct'rol f ""^^We sentiments is here s1.meth!ng mo e thaTc LC {-° ^^'"^ '^''' done. It is true therp ;= tl '^'anmshness can con- not much of it'ri^':^;%'LS:s?l]K.^'~-''- ChamberUT •' tL^^f ^^'^'^^^^ •' ' -ed the Grace's faithful se"anf ° but 1 A' y°^'l^^fjo his some sympathy with th; ^^L u,T°} ^^ '^^ny-ng If I had knWth^^V name Drimd °^ ^T °H^^'- for I m,ght have switired to Ss"t°bnr" -1°?" 1 have never had the hononr i' ' "* ^® '* '»' dubious cattle rou„?fbe'r,L^ftdo:rcVR:rbur A MAN OF NOBLE SENTIMENT. 193 We have heVeTn?onV„fothe s'wS' hir V^^^ touch with affairs in^Fra„ce thin 1° ^"^ " '^'^' Baron of D^';f„.^°"gJj^tW*'?."^ '"^'^^ *"« my search was for t^^ n, u' f°'' **'^' ^«'y reason stack. I find mvL f in^. "^•^'^^ "^^"^'^ '" ^^^ hay- friend at court ^see hT'"^ "'"'^ °^ ^ J"'^'<='°"s resolution quit lou-not fn nn ^°" ^^" '°""'' y°»r but an indiUence tha?V^m '"^,'=°:''^S^' ^ ""ean, time and hrdltr^SonsTfhT'^ ^K *''•" '*P^ "^ tion ? It is mv case n? f L ^^^ "^^^ *° "^ ««cu. to'those Heft behind v °* ''f.^".^' *«" ''""wn the earhest!" ^ ""''^ ^"^"E^ ^ ""eeting at .^« laughed as he said so. Chambe"rain''"l*°^Sil?' *''" '^^1^'" "^'^ '^- darroch, of course TLnt ^^^ ^^,°"*- D"™- sheep-skins had nAf h.^ ' °' '^^'' '^ * '^^yer's than the sword- but "-h.T' P?^'^"' "°^^days reluctant to giv; wordrto tC"^*^ ^ "J""""* ^^ 'f tncit es mvself hi,t »,, 1 ^ .°'^ "'s eccen- acquaintaSp S resect 'T„™1 '". °"^ "^"^^ genuine heart." ^ ° '"'"' *•>« ""an of make It plain that his claim to the his old title in name to no way 194 DOOM CASTLE. forbidden here to all but those in the king's ser^iw And'l^vT'V' ''«'"f -"^Jor of the loca"^FeSs' T^l aJ^L"^ ' ''«™'= MacCailen I " n„l,»^ A « ^ this time entered the policies of the Duke. A figure walked alone in the o'bscuritv with loZ n X ^^aracteristic fashion behind hsbrck going m the direction thev themselves were taking S;:drs"rts°o'l *r "^ ^^^'"^^''''" hesitaUte The Duke turned his face in the darkness and as they came alongside, recognised his Chamberl Jr.' ^' fully -Art'a'?!; ^^ evening!" he cried ch^er- pestilent f.^ fh i?""*^' f ?""*'' ^"^ ^ am at that pestuent task the rehearsal of a speech." Grac^erc£mtrirs?idVe 'S"" .^^ C b^n.at the speech -' making ^yserpartly to a co^fc'ai e^^sSSr^'" ''"'' '"^^ ^""^ '" ^ who^mn r/"^ *° "•'' ""fortunate friend of mine sioe of the English Channel. May I introduce M Montaiglon. who is at the inn below, and whomit to-mfe"?":^^ '°°^ ^°^'"« t° "e-t for 'the first dme eve't'?ookThe'"^rrr°';'^'^' *° the stranger, who. how- andM°urn*?^ his L'^ "PR.'^;'^ *° ''^''^ ^"*'.^"« than th= A 1 "^ "a° °o sooner ret red "It cann!!.^\"'P:r''^ '"-"^ "^'"r^' curiosity. It cannot be the person you desired for th? furnishmg of our tolboSth the^ther day, Si'n,?- "No less." frankly responded the Chamberlain. A MAN OF NOBLE SENTIMENT. for Mont- hber.,-see.s our excel JSi^cSS^L^ tenance. "Sim" wiH ho < heard =Ui: "TndtJ fan^'I.'' '""* "^'" "« "ad it is quixotic ? Normark^ '^t ?"'' " il°P«'«*' " French friend, even'in th^ h t '"°"' l'^'"^ °"' He had little to 7av Ih J„ K fi-.'.,''""*'. differently, enough to show bv^its ,S'nn""'V^ ^J' '^'''' '^^^ one who will find\ 1 Zn "'' *''• ' ^^'^ J"^» '"e corridors." ^ ""*" **'«" •" "y crowded »97 CHAPTER XXIV. A BROKEN TRVST. The Chamberlain's quarters werp in ♦»,« extravagant — vouthfXr,^'."'",'''^ '^'"' P'^'se duchessT who St LmP'ST-' almost -of his absence.' have re'ef'ihlt ni/h a^^the'l"'^ '' }'l the world, instead of merelv inM *^^^ P^^"^ end of few days' visit ^ *''^ "^"^ «=°"nty on a whinlfonervoj faTcJt'Jrar 't^ ^- , " ""^^ iousness. Well vveH m„ F ' ^^" '"'''^cile of uxor- see herlSr and p el Cre^;VnH- '"°^"'"g. ^'nd Doyouknowwhat,cousfnT I n,. '''"^ ""^ *.''^^^- ball when she comes home wT'iPk"^ *° ^'^« ^ neighbours, and I'll Lk M % ^i" •'^^V""* t^^ ns the ver; latest step I like he'll ' '^''"''^ ^"' rmgs the sterline met-, I * !, ^"""'^ ^°«^' 't this action on tll^^^^i i,' brmrnt "^ '°^t the dev.l fly away with politics ! I^must' go' to a 198 ^>OOM CASTLK. "Hd then we havp fi,„ /^u . foon,, envious of tha hl^.f"?''^'"'-'"" '" ^is turret that direction wh«e"D^^„^'^r "'^^^ »"« ^ace fell a good man. ^ ^ '"' P'«*«ant excitation, he Slaur ryi!;i tX^^ he/v ■' "^^ r ^- 'he old worst f its temptations tS?he"^°: ^'^i~^^'='''' *="*■ mounted and rod ° th^ h„ f .u ^1 ''°"' * *°fd he grass. He left behind hfm ♦k''"'''''",^ ''"" °" '^e and looming i" i?s nest beToi»h """*•• ''"'*'' <^"'' turned the bav" tLiT ''^'°w the sentinel hill; he bird screame/^n thi Z^'lT"'"'^ S "«'" °' '^°.- a he saw and heard touched a fine nfar^^'^.l^^' 'J^ ="• touched a decent love i„ him V "•,'" •"" '='°*'«' with wholesome iovous ?rh„r ' ''',\''^«-t was full to the creaking sadi^e«i„' ?"'',*"= *=■"'? «>% old Gaelic Smen t'h't L^,?„t'',°f ^^^^ "^ '='«''" rock, seawrark Kit^i^ u*" *.''^ mainland and the the sS'^f 'seaweed'^om^l^anf """^''i^'' ^-'' -^ the winter wood Th. ? "* ""^^ ""^ °^°»" of went into thXweJ^ sat r'th"^"' F'''' ''"''• "e the damp bedrSd stranH^ /"r ^''''' ^""""K and took%is flaSel from tis°Utt""^ ''°^^-' veryi^o bv^'^' SS^h"" '1^ ■"'*™-"' '^^ this (Srsaken dew:drenc^cd ho ' '''^" ^ P^^™ ^"^ so rapt, so devoted hi ,„1,!'°^".^ great cathedral, the very deepest ecstivIntn*K^ '°J^^ *° "«" soo DOOM CASTLE. I I ceased his ^ayni'for a l^'"'y ^'*'' ^°"der. as he he brokenUlis^to L theS-"''J.°°'''='^ through starry sky. There oulht „h '^'!'^ ''^^'='' ^elow the the window of Olivivf ' '^^^*' '" be a hVht in t-yst herself, and™ Se had't ^^ '"^^ « ^h" flL ^.^'.''^P^ ^''^ had not heard V ^^^ {^"'='' *» keep flageolet again, finding a coS.^'"- .^"^ ^ t° his "AhT" P^'"''°™ance. ^"°" '" *''« sweetness "Ah! there"'„^doubtTfif;P^?'jS *° ^dmire- hetter than most-better tho^ '* '^^'^^""y well- whafs the wonder at thnt ? f" ^"^ ^'^^ heard, and S- apiTheToToKpt^J^^^ ifs -al nrwZ yo^ tfc !."° ^.^^^» '"™berTere"Vw!.5§^f,^" ^°od Hrifar„rrt,^/«'^^^-''^ " '' "" "" past P-hewip^d that iffT/ '" f" his life. The fpge; nowhewasa„ewm'''°'l'=*'°" as with a the n>,re and a clein road ZlV^ ^'' ^^^' °"t of KhS-e^TaSt^^^^^^^^ coafetf^^err^r'^'-o'^'-aist- prden. Doom CasL ros *nv u*-^PP«d °"t into the o"k ::*'°"^ ^ ^WrTi?fi"^'='^'%hand took possession of him H^ •"^'^ .^PPrehension gave the signal en I J ^ ^^^'^^d his head an^ answer almorLiilcVfro''^ ^''^^ '' d-w'an terS£tf^-"--^^^St^y ;-'V'1liuyttcaS ^f ^^%.- ^he door' -uld a'ht- "3^ the collar of his coat as if he A BROKEN TRYST. 801 he or three inch o' oak d^uJ °"y^^'"^ ^^ss than twa " Cut clavers and teH ^ T" ^.^ ''"'^ herm." , " Oh. weel • she hS^^.^^J'.^t -' ^ y°"r mistress I Mungo, waving his arms to hr,°^^''^ i""^*'" ^^'^ bourhood as witness^Xh'e° oftfu 10^°'^ -■^''■ thrlw^S over"'"" '''^"^' ^* ^'^ '^S'and nearly I n^nr^'oV^'L^At^^^^^^^^^^ "have word but what I want and ni =i u ""^ '"^ another ye,are already with mrp'/raraJ^^'' ^^ --"- than wad jfstlSe"c°ool!:!L^^^-"' ^^ ^ungo. "If ye fire!* W&?°:i"' ..•'*-! I'm up to the neck in thr|:srin°Krd 5 ^■'--''^ "^ ^* ^^^^ •- °' andMalriu^-/-^^^^^^^^^^^ berlam. his face tingling ""^"^ '^e Cham- here' ""' *° '"^^' her to-night; does she knoW I'm did!" '^PP"'^ "* ''^^ ''""^ "'ysel- to mak- sure she " ^"d what said she?" t>ne tauld me to sae awa' i -j • and she said it didna mister " ' "^"^ '* ^^^ y°". . . Uidna maitter!" reoeaVprl ti, r-u ■ viciously, mimicking the eS LnH - Chamberlain, ails her ? " ^ eastland accent. " What 202 DOOM CASTLE. The Chamberlain drew his cloak about him cold with a contemptuous rebuff. His mouth parched • violent emotions wrought in him. b^ he recovered i-gnornr ^ ""'' '"* *° ""'"^ hi/rnTot "vt^l^vl'i^i^ ^i' "it's a woman's way. Mungo " t, .YouUhkelyken.-said Mungo; " I've had sr^k- troke wi' them mysel'." ™^ th;n^";f''^ ""^1' ^•"'^ "°^ that I mind right I thmk It was not to-night I was to come, after a^l- I must have made a mistake. If you have a chance in or two''o%h°'fl'"^r" '=^" *^" '^^^ I wasted a tune nLi . .u^^ flageolet on a wheen stars. It is a Count Victor, a prey of an idiotic jealousy. ^ 803 CHAPTER XXV. RECONCILIATION. Mdngo Stood in the dark till ft, i .. l inhabitants. "''' ^°P^ ^°' ^°°'^ and its ,. '.'^n auW done rickle o' a place i "' hp sn .'-,„ • j sent awa' wi- a flefin hf=T ^^I'J^SS^^ should be ta'en her fancy! V/orn^n are a" like we"„r th'^ never see the crart ir, o„ u "^e weans; they shows the™ a new'a^"e.^Ve"d - aTsur asT T? wash my haun's o' the hale afflln She"s daft rt ^ daft, puir dear t If c^^ i / ,. ■f'"^ s aatt ; clean hae some excuse but I Zl ""^''^ ^ ""="' '^'^ "''^ht doot K,n'= (l> i^ . *°°'^ ^"'d '•are o' that. I doot yon s the end o' a very promis.'n' match, and 204 DOOM CASTLE. Ds Jawin^'^^-^^'^"'^^^^'^ '^^"'■^ """"^d a'°ng the lobby, ps^wmg with vexation, and in a little, Doom, to al appearance, was a castle dark and desolate. ' Yet not wholly asleep, however dark and silent- h°oofe r^ '°°ff ^i }^^"^ '^' '^^t °f the tSunden-ng chrrishing " ^"''' "^'"' '^""^ '•'^ P^^'^^ °f i'^ >°ng She came down in the morning a mere wraith of h^r r^' I' 'i r'""'' *° the httle^servitor, shutdnJ her lips hard, but ready to burst into a shower ^ table " iV/m *\°"i''' ^""«°' ^^"i"g the scanty table. It s clear she hasna' steeked an e'e a' nicht and me sleep.n' like a peerie. That's ane o" the ^nH-fl^r ° ^'"J °^^^ the uneasy age o' love- t^X'^ZZ'''^' ^^''- ' -"''- 'f'he-s r„:^ She smiled upon him bravely, but woe-beeone anri aTa i"n°Jh '''"' ^'l^JXf ^ng "p'-nd S shf essayej from th^ ■ T^"^ ^'*,h "° had pretence as she cast from the window a glance along the wintry coast But "aTn. f^^^uV'' "IP^'^t though heartl^ broke! melodv of SW t^ ■\^^' i'' ^^^ the unfinished h ere ,hP hJ^ bewitching flageolet. She stopped J„rn»^ * «^j ?,°"^ '^^"her than a bar or two, ^d turned to find Mungo irresolute and disturbed th» ,.K- ^^^^.^r'^ began the little man, with the whisper of the conspirator it " I^t U^Ii'k 'he cried, "you will not say a word of It. It IS all bye with me, and what for not with you ? LarT-'^'AndT '°r 'f\"° "°^^ ^hout it, do^you .?^i\ And her foot beat with an imperiousness tirnce?°""'^' ^'"^ °"' ^"h such a broken cou^! '' It's a gey droll thing " . " It IS a gey hard thing, that is what it is " <;hp .nterrupted him, "that you will not do what I ?ell you, and say nothing of what I have no relish to RECONCIUATIOK. ^, p.i™SZ"S.E:' ~ ■="■"• »«"»• «.. puftE;SS„t,tS' ■"■""••' "»'. "- gey hard to gie them the back o^'th/^ Weevils ifs sae used to rouehpr t,W • ?^ ^ ''^"" ^"'J them think o- us ? It's sic rdnVn".°°"l: ^*'^''" ti^^y hainin- seein' Leevie'.HT °"'^' *'"* '^^ ""^un hi clear cot o' the b^^ ' S sedn'";?*^ "°' ''^'\ "^i' comXtTtrei:, ?mrrorth'"^t"^^^^-'' was Annapla taken up wifh her Gift"; "' n"'"^'' fluting, in the bower and " vefr .1 shTt^ T.^ 'CCUP.U w«h her image even din tohe'^f^/ 306 IJOOM CASTLE. stricken by the fi'rst o^TnL" w 1^""' "" ''''='' been^^^f^L^SSt t'.\r 'r^ *"- "^"^ niust be taking a change oHr rm'f ''°"'' "y"" not tohavesein before^how much ™u LX ?"h* hastened to correct whaf i,^ ? ' j i?^" "• "^ was a misapprehension "?lT'f'^ ^J?" 1?«^ &« red cheeks, my dew {«lieve Z'^r """^ '^°'" y°'" you like that." "^ ' ^ *" wae to see " I will do whatever you wish father •• „^-j <-.i- • in much agitation Coprr J il' '^"'^'^'. said Olivia she was cfay. " I have it L"^^' "°"' '=°^^«'l daughter to you, father^ after thU? ^n^t'^ good to be better.-' ' ^' *'"* ^ ^'" ^e trying her into his arms-an odd rfuT, i^ '=''^"" ^""^ t°°k stone-cold but to his dreams ^^^ ^°' ^ """" ^° '°"g tha't^LJnevT^att 'be"!f ''^"^* '" °- detail you havebe^rthrbSt of g,Knte\"^ *-°' am not the pattern parent ! " ' ^ ''"°'^^' ^ his"breaT "'"* '""""^ '"'^ "-''• ^«d ^he wept on ;; Sour and dour " said he. J No, no I "she cried. "And poor to penury." on;;iLVtro°rus""'' '°' ^ '°^'"^ '='>«d- There are fu% in fhe wet wa^'fal-'^T' ""t'°°''«'l ^er wist- there. " % Wen < " h f^"* 'T ''''■ ^'''^ Christina that this main's hum t-^"*' "* "^ "° --'i- You have made me happy this day. Olivia." said RECONCILIATION. --_ 308 CHAPTER XXVI. THE duke's ball For some days Count Victor chafed at the dull and somewhat squalid life of the inn. He found himself regarded coldly amonp strangers; the flageolet sounded no longer in the private parlour? the Chamberlain stayed away. And if Drin..arroch had seeined ill to find from Doom, he was abso- lutely undiscoverable here. Perhaps there was less eagerness in the search because other affairs would for ever intrude— not the Cause (that now, to tell the truth, he somehow regarded moribund ; little wonder after eight years' inaction !) nor the poignant home-thoughts that made his ride through Scotland melancholy, but affairs more recent, and Olivia's eyes possessed him. A morning had come of terrific snow, and made all the colder, too, his sojourn in the country of MacCailen Mor. Now he looked upon mountains white and far, phantom valleys gulping chilly winds, the sea alone with some of its familiar aspect, yet it too, leaden to eye and heart as it lay in a perpetual haze between the headlands and lazily rose and fell in the bays. The night of the ball was to him like a reprieve l-rom the darkness of those woody deeps below Dunchuach the castle gleamed with fires, and a Highland welcome illumined the greater part of the avenue from the town with flambeaux, in whose THE duke's ball. ioq radiance the black pines, the huge beeches, the waxen shrubbery round the lawns all shrouded, seemed to creep closer round the edifice to hear the sounds of revelry and learn what charms the human world when the melodious winds are still and the weather is cold, and out of doors poor thickets must shiver in appalling darkness. A gush of music met Count Victor at the thresh- old ; dresses were rustling, a caressing warmth sighed round him, and his host was very genial. '• M. Montaiglon," said his Grace in French, "you will pardon our short notice; my good friend, M. Montaiglon, my dear; my wife, M. Montaiglon " But M. Montaiglon merely in the inns, my lord." corrected the Frenchman, smiling. '< I should be the last to accept the honour of your hospitality under a nom de guerre." The Duke bowed. " M. le Comte," he said, " to be quite as candid as yourself, I pierced your in- cognito even in the dark. My dear sir, a Scots traveller named for the time being the Baron Hay once had the privilege of sharing a glass coach with your uncle between Paris and Dunkerque j 'tis a ^^"^^ -H** "*'. ''^^P- Meanwhile, as I say, M. Montaiglon will pardon the shortness of our notice : m these wilds one's dancing-shoes are presumed to be ever airing at the fire. "You must consider these doors as open as the woods so long as you are in this nt.ghbourhood. I have some things I should like to show you that you might fin 1 not wholly un- interesting--a Raphael, a Rembrandt (so reputed), and several Venetians— not much, in faith, but re- garding which I should value your criticism " Some other guests arrived, his Grace's speech was broken, and Count Victor passer" on, ski- -f the dancers, who to his unaccustomed eyes ..sented features strange yet picturesque as they moved in the puzzling involutions of a country dance. It was ^ ?2 TT- ul' ''""S '^°""'^ *'**> tapestry and bossed with Highland targets, trophies of arms and the 310 DOOM CA8TLK. fnJ''!„^''''"*''"I!""^[°<'''«'' """""d him for a familiar he sought distraction from his uneasy feefeSv passing every man*in the room under revTew anJ guessing which of them, if any. could be the Drim It Tas atffl.t't'r^'l^ ''"^ *''"' fmm Fr'^are! among them the secret he cherishfS, andVnothLI about them to advertise the scamp who QfCrured THE duke's ball. 311 That 8 a grand picture of.mutrimonial felicity, Count, said a voice at Count Victor's car, and he turned to find the Chamberlain beside him. ''Positively it makes me half envious, monsieur," said Count Victor. " A following influenced by the old feudal affections and wellnigh worshipping; health and wealth, ambitions gratified, a name that has sounded m camp and Court, yet a heart that has s'i'yed at home; the fever of youth abated, and wedded to a beautiful woman who does not weary one, pardieu I his Grace has nothing more in this world to wish for." " Ay ! he has most that's needed to make it a very comfortable world. Providence is good " " But Sometimes grudging " "But sometimes grudging, as you say; yet Mac- Cailen has got everything. When I see him and her there so content I'm wondering at my own wasted years of bachelordom. As sure as you're there, I think the sooner I draw in at a fire and play my flageolet to the guidwife the better for me." " It is a gift, this domesticity," said Count Victor, not without an inward twinge at the picture. " Some of us have it, some of us have not, and no trying hard for content with one's own wife and early suppers will avail unless one is born to it like the trick ofthe sonnet. I have been watching our good friend, your lawyer's wife, distracted over the — over ths—balour- dise of her husband as a dancer: he dances like a bootmaker's sign, if you can imagine that, and I dare not approach them till her very natural indignation has simmered down." The Chamberlain looked across the hall distaste- fully and found Mrs Petullo's eyes on him. She shrugged, for his perception alone, a white shoulder in a manner that was eloquent of many things. " To the devil ! " he muttered, yet essayed at the smile ' good friendship which was now to be their currency, and a poor exchange for the old gold. " Surely Monsieur MacTaggart dances ? " said the ata DOOM CA8TLB. eyes were roving amonrth!'^*' " '^""""'a: hw peen.and-bIue"farta7"o^f he houTwo^t "'"^ film : he wore diced hose of sflk m^H , T'"r '^'=*"'« calf of his he: his ola^ ^1 ?"*^ * ''"''^ °n 'he shoulder, and fell in vnh.rn ^ '^""T ^ "*"'' «' *he behind him. Hi eyes ^ amon"."»'l «^"'"' f"'''' now and then he liftpnThi u?^ the women, and rubbed his shaven chfn "'''"''' °^ ''«"''» »"«» thi?vXg?h:ro""A"nS"then'";r'' V '"canity of brimmed wi.^^SnUl^err '''''' '°' *"« "- stSf^'muskS^L^' 'l"?'" "• *'""? ''^ - ^'vage the dan^Kodv full nf °^^ '" ='". *"'«f^- "^ the ean. of ^hTfore^iJner „hr"^r ''?«'*'°"« '" °f fency from 'the skre\rvetha?'th'/7 """''"« sobbed. When thi. niZ-J ,}■ '"^ '°w notes ringing stormlly to tEL rl,7\^f '"K '" 'be hall, silencing theSs the D^?^5cr^'''"g *,''^ •"»""«» with so^e coSon 'n atre en '"Jh':['r '"'^'''^'^ disturbed. preten».o that he was un- Victor" air with a story, perhaps?" asked Count so relte to\Ken ofrtTrf ''^'.^ '^^ »— • they'rriike our old i^fend R.lh m' '^^t^' " '" ^''^t -T.^-~ber:^HrolJ^iS ferabY;Sfa::::.J"<^-'''"-d Count Victor-"pre- and?ere,''?o?''Srtrar rthe' '^ TP'"^ woman, musicians." ' ^^^ ""^^^ indifferent of THE duke's BAIX. ax3 u "J?^' ' "?°"»'eur; I present my homaces to the still not wifh .' •." Poof.'pstrument. and still-and whn fi^H Ifi,"' '" 'l'"''"'«:s. Here's one at least who finds ,t he very salve for weariness. Play^^R God I could live my l.fe upon the flute, for there I m on the best and clcanVst terms with myself »l,r.^''^''\" "P* ''''■ ' •'^^■e heard of yours— so I— that somehow haunts me," said Count Victor •^' its conclusion seemed to baffle you." ' of th,°f "w '' "'^"' *° '.' ^°^^ ' " I found the end lfs-5 's i^"7»' would find a new MacTaggart It s— It s— It s not a run of notes I want-indeed the but anLT' ^"^ ' '"'fe''" ""'''« 't what y chose- but an experience or something of that sort outside my opportunities, or m> recollection." "*'"''' wasTt o^' h?m ' « ^ "" ^"'i "\'^" ^^f"". but hers ffin. ' '''* '°"^'" "'^ ''y^' °f the Cham- once^tht?L'rj!l'/°"*?y'" ^^ indicated, and at "ci .J u ^^"^^'^'"^ visage changed. m,^^®..'"^^^"^' 8^!*' ''°w bitter a prospect that may be, said he with pity for the creatiirrnnH h &r^ pT*m '°™" reluctance, at his heel. love's advlnrlT *''' }^&S "^'"^^ °f her old mlL advance it was all that was needed now to make her evening horrible. "Oh!" said she, smiling, but still with nthrr emotions than amusement ofgoodw' stSing fn Sone the waro! T ' 7? ^1^' 5"^^^'"^ y°" -°""d b" "Rntfonc i" ^ ""'^^ *? '°°'' *° y^""- buttons." ^Buttons! rpneated the Chamberlain, bee, she sa and lightly turned him round so 214 DOOM CASTLE. his Highland jacket ^'■°'" ^ ''^'^* °^ ove's:irht°rShrk„^^^^ button in his pocket *'*^ ""^^'"^ very d^vTwaJ inT"™^ '"^'•^"'^^^ "^ ^--. °^ the littTe'^oS'SrSsPeTulfo- ''"^ ^*!l' ^^1-^^^ a of his evps nn^i ^etullo wondered at the ancer abst;S'n^"„;,^ rthtoSn!"^''^'^ "P°" - 213 CHAPTER XXVII. THE DUEL ON THE SANDS. The Chamberlain stood near the door with his hand m the bosom of his coat, fingering the fllgeolet that was h,s constant companion even in the oddest cir cumstances, and Count Victor went up to him ?he button concealed in his palm. ' likJ^f'/°" f^ ^°' e^'ng?" said Simon, more like one who puts a question than states a position for some hours of Count Victor's studied contemot created misgivings. contempt do'm^^th.'T' ^ ^"' ■' ^"^ P°^^'^'y monsieur will avere?" ' *° accompany me so far as the "Sir ! " said the Chamberlain. a matter'of"Z"j,"'™ "*°se .reputations were mainly a matter of clothes. Monsieur is the first I have Pern,^ r ^^^'^"^^^ ''""S upon a single button hand. ^^^'^ ^^^ '"^^' '°^'"S" °"* "PO" his open u "i ■^'"^■'^.^l''^ '"^"y buttons alike," said the Cham "'w n-^^^""^ ^ ^''"'^'^^d himself ab^pUy. and- Well damn it ! Ill allow it's mine," safd ^;. m,.} r^ ^""^^^ J"'' 'his charming degree of manly frankness from monsieur. A button is -i butt^on, .top, and a devilish serious thing^J.^n, say! 2l6 DOOM CASTLE. man. '^ °" '°"se of the other and^helKS'^tSHn^r'^'^ ".P *he hand. Count Victor Jl^n^»^ • ,".^ ^'°"S ^''^ floor, no one noU d "^ The hall'ti^ T" ''™ j° ^^ *hat was left wholly to themselves ^°4J°?:',,'^°^^tics. the company had longTone and hi t f^ ^^^ °^^''' stay his own deoarturP hT!'„ ■ . ^ ''^^ "managed to old'armourthaSg wtell'^r'n^'r^'^ '" '^^ plished, on the wallf' 7nlt V u ^*"^"* "seaccom- with three of tirfclil?'^ ''^ ^ ^%"^ ^t cards just departed. The "elannhT'/"^","^ "^^""^ ^^^ a banquet-roota has s^ttLn H ^ °^ T^}! """^"'"S in guttered in thXuffof dlr ' ^"'^ ^" '""^ ^-'^'- callinS^thTo"ira" " s'^rc'^' /l^? '^ ^ "-'"- disturbed by the^rud^ness ^ '' I abhor {h^t "° ^^^ hot grease." aonor the stench of 'I'm the last man who would ^nnil thr. of a ploy," said the rLmV, i ^^^ , prospect Highlan/sword for one Sf Th. ""' "^^"^'^^ ^'^ that was in more con?orm?ty whh tC Fr" 'I' ^^^Z' ;tr%"rimSoc^,^l*''^^ '^ ^-elftL";-1o"r„d^ his'tS " DrimSro^/Hsta"" t^'^ '° ^'^ partly Doom's, thou/h T ^ °i ^ '"^ ^'^='''' ' t^is is poor excuse for your inexoln M "?' "^.^ "'^'^^ *•>« TheChamberC'si/hfc^^^^^^^^^^^ and smiled. " I was riX " tl u ' J"™'''* ^^ay, a fellow credits Wmsef Wth S ^h" " «^'^^ jealousy." "" °^'"S the cause of " Very well ! " he said aloud at last, "this way." THE DUEL ON THE SANDS. 217 bv. ^1 /^ ■'^'^V^ ^''^^^^ ""'J^'- •''« a™ he led. rnf,nf v-".' 'Vn^ turret-angle, into the garden. Count Victor followed, stepping gingerly, for the WiLT ^."'''^-deep upon the itwn, 'kn/ his red- heeled dancing-shoes were thin. "We know we must all die," said he in a little. tT^^nf T^ " ^^"J °^ '^°''^> ^"d a glance abou die b,^'f hf'^ garden-" We know we must all die but I have a preference for dying in dry hose "^1? } ""=*• Cannot monsieur^ suggest a mo?e comfortable quarter for our little affair ? " Monsieur is not so dirty particular," said the Chamberlam. "If I sink my*^own rheumatism, it IS not too much for you to risk your hose." 1 he main avenue " suggested Count Victor, is seen trom every window of the ball-room and the servants are still there. Here is a great to-do about nothing ! " *' " But still, monsieur, I must protest on behalf of my poor hose," said Count Victor, always smiling. the aaS;Jin!°"'' '^'^ °" ™^ ""•= ^-*'" ^^'^ "Doubtless, monsieur; but there is so much in custom, «es< cepas? and my ancestors have always been used with boots." I'wiys, The Chamberlain overlooked the irony and glanced perplexed about him. There was, obvioufly, ^o te T *^l* "^^^ "°*, °P^" *° the objection urged. wav^h.'?. ^ '"""^J^y ^"^P °" Sr^'^ a"d Path- way, the trees were sheeted ghosts, the chill struck through his own Highland brogues " 1^°'"^a! "i*''^ f'^ ^* '.^'*' ^'th a sudden thought ; he^Pn'th 1,P''''^.'/''°"^'' '*'^ ^^ hit to go," and he led the way hurriedly towards the riverside. One of us may go farther to-day and possibly fare worse," said Montaiglon with unwearied good- humour, stepping in his rear. It was the beginning of the dawn. Already there was enough of it to show the world of hill and wood m vast, vague, silent masses, to render ivan the ai8 nOOM CASTLE. m £lhf STsSe*„'^r'« *°T^ ^^-'^^ the., crimson, some pine t"°'iy„ T u^^ u^^""'^'^ «'th against it, intLseirK ItilT^' ^^ ^'^"-^k perhaps because they led the m^Tf^^ "'flancholy, remote, and soh'taAr places thl '^'^'=" °" *"d, forests, the cruel destfnv nf 1 savagery of old after and must Ro heU L T' 7'^° ^"^ ^ome wood. There waf no S-*;LtnH*'''"^^ °' '''^ m frost. " ' "e landscape swooned o'cSif the 'Sr^^n?^CK-^ T''^ «* ^ liftin/itsUd to'S wTthourH'" "" °^''-t^-. phantom; every moment h.". '^'""^>'' ^^'"°st a at last the sea showed lin ^^" .'P'"^^'^ wider; revealed themselves u7on Ben Im'" nf ^^^^ "'^t^ was only the wearvJn,; i . ^f sound there the roll ^f the ^hZ^! iFke'T^h^,^ '^'J^-des and way^s the iver ran b^li^Kt''^^'^ °" ^-- %ure\'t:^dlnnS'andtfs'a''°""' ^'^*- *" *"« accents. ' "" '^'^ answer came in curt pai'icS-^ *''"'" '■" '^" ™'""tes. You want a little the march is pestilent dull" " °"^ *" ">«. but askert1,V cXlV^aJf^r"';' ^t ^ ^"^^ ? " slowing his step -and hU T*''""* t"™ing or inspire^d, he dtw out 5he' L' *''??\'"= ''^'^ ^ee" his bosom friend and Ttf f °'^* ^''^t was ever heard the strains of a bltoi^'?""^f Frenchman incongruous in the ckc.f^T ^"^'V ^' was so laugh. ^"^ circumstances that he must " It were a thousand pities to kill . sonage," thought he "anH ,„? " 5° ■'^■"^ a per- villainous earlf morning." y^^'^'^'^ yet-'tis a THE DUEL ON THE SANDS. jig houses, whose shutters— wifh 1 jf i • °ls''^eP'ng tnrnL ? ^ ""^ ^^' ^"'6* ^nd duU, the east "fnr ?f^ ""■^•^ °^ °"^ ^* '^^'^t'" said Montairfon • •I'm waiting," said the Chamberlain. 3J0 DOOM CASTLE. a JaM^ rilaV'""^ °' ^*^^' ">"= *he sound of ice Its inhabitants, the mo^f^fnl -^ " ""^P ^'"^' °f a" business out upon t^ sands Tt T '^'' ^*«™ from the ball rent w "h vexatfon fnH^'' ^°"^ ''°'"« her husband snored a m.n„ t" ^"'^ '^'^appointment ; dice-cheeked, scorched ^tthpn °^ P^.'-l'""ent, jaun- shuddering with distaste „fK '^ '^'"' snuff; and, panion, sh^e sat Lg at the tindo^'ln 'h" "^ ^' «""' chasing dream with7?r», """°°'»'' all her hnery on, knew, flasf^th he inSh,"'^ ^-'"y ^''^"'- ^s she to the truth. For her !h-fl^P THE DUEL ON THE SANDS. 223 beyond Ih ' iff SSr'i"" ""= ™'™ kiUs neys, all white wither ^''''':'' ?.'"°''«'"<=ss ch/m- Olivia." ^ ' '"^"^ J""' "ny dear- her neck mve h/r th.? ' !'^'',^'''\ f'i""ng round husband's windots ?hie1 I'LVrd^eltX H^^^^^ noV-stTaid'atlsf '*"1^r 'T '"■"^'' '^''" ^ matters all— n,f \,„ •: j " '^"'^^ ""* matter— oh ! it Ka s rcri'S'-h-eVp', ■'■■ •*= -»" Madeline," he said, " you will die of cold • oerir ,t f aa4 DOOM CASTLE. shoulders, i.ke a cloak »:»,« j her with tremblinrfi- rs Jrh"'- '"''«='•, about the comfort though her detn»^L' T ^"^^ "''ved gave it was ^eatf Bu^ In frufh "h°^ ""^ '?'"" *»■" now, forgettTng even the Wnl r ^^ "'''* demented I'ttle paces onthoTJdJ^lu"^ '?V^''- She gave S^bS/-- -?"-?Cii-a?d-|ob though that of necessity w;slftH^7'"'i'"='^°"''^' restoration, and relinquished thi%*° ''=''"^" '"s approaching footsteps^on thl 1 °ffi« only when up to see a group of'llorkmrn h T ^^"^^ ''''" '°°k where the Chamberlain 1 hastening to the spot and the lady "rd the fo J^ on the edge of the tide " This n L 11^4 tf,'^"'"'' '"=s'de him. an accusing fini'r' ''""'' '''''' ^'^ P'='""°. Pointing ani'L's^'^^L'sTn honoSl'™'" ^^''^ '^' "^^ in matters little at this mom^nf ^rsagement; but that do is to have him removTr^ '^''^" ^t^ ^'^^ 'hing to concerned. I promise you li^K ^? ^^' ^« ' am w.th you and^'see hfmSlytdged -?""^ '^"^ '°^° pttv:!"trcrnnrr£^"^-*''-«'' the ,odge latter looked back anH ^'n ,J^^';>'" attendance, the shouldered, standing tefo^etr ^'^"""^.^eain bare! gazing after them ^^ husband's door and 335 CHAPTER XXIX. THE CELL IN THE FOSSE. grey reek with the acrid odour Tf h^^?^"* ''^*'t soaring from chimneys into a slcvint.n""!^ Z""^ and the roads that lay interfaced anH j"'^?^'^'^ ^lue; makmg their own af&;r= / ^"™m to follow him, in theltate of one wh^ ^-f ^^""k^-'^ *° *''^''- '"t^^^st aiglon, was deen in f A • "'^l°bY'o«s even to Mont- thlt a few leagues farther ^'^'"*r°"'- ."« ^^^"^ed Justiciary GeS h mf/ht ^^ ^'""^ ^^T ^^^^ °f ^ man wh^ haSTroughT Son' M J-T " '" ^'''' '''^ rStl- ^eTh ?^^^^ Argyll met his Chamberlain witi, ♦;, • az6 "OOM CASTLE. I' ) Couirv^ff 3°„h;. w^^ vva, .h. cause of i,. upon the hazards of Tn "'»-• l -^ ^'"■°" °f Doom boar's cave, and rea iscd forth"/ f""'''"^'' '° ">«= m.ffht mean in this cln, J u"' '""" what that wretch from Ap^fn whose^A^''^'^ "'^ ""hap^; b ance to his own had h^^ "'* ^^^ *°'ne resem- v-ctim (as the tak went) S wornMtl''^ ^^'^'^ 'he whose existence was nc?erbt ? '^ 'f,'''"' J^=''°"si« Highland line. In the chin ri • "" .°"*^'<^e 'he coatless and shivering the hrh"'"«u'"^ ^^ ««°°d. lifting above him thpi,'kl • ^'' embrasured walls ground a litRptt Sch"oVtr''f'' "^"'^ ''^^- savage and incomprehensible Tn h^^ '^"^T'Ge heard ■t were, of no significanrt »„ " ^''"' himself, as that was to maSt it^e ? "t"L°"' '""P' '^e law n'ght ,t had been very lav in fhf/ ""T""^' Last was the most graciouTfPho.f! l"'"?'.'he ^''^e vast difference "°^*^' here, faith ! was a takingYdvantage of ITuLle in ^h^^'^ -^ bystander, he wounded man was taken into th '""''f °^ ^hich the answer of a scullion ""= '=^'"''- "e got rope-s moi^e' Jike'ir^lnH^ "^^/l ^' '''^dressed. ^'A S«e-?'S:i?-si£i^S-cr^S"£ been wanting, of an act h. evidence, had that with frankness. * ''^ ^^^ P^P^^red to admit peSjufand d'Tnlhe^r'ltf^^^^^' ^^"^ ■s a pretty matter. You hav °™ ^'^'"^ *"'"' "'his pictures so-newhat sooner than lln'rl, '^ /"" "^y •n no very ceremonious cir umstaSces °°''''' ^°'' ''"'^ THE CELL IN the posSE •" .ne. FOSSE. „j 'ur Grace's i„vi ".C wL s "T'"" "^"i'^' »"" meeting '..._ considcrationfin the kev Tr"! i^"" ""'' *'"' '-'^cry you behold me oxc^JZ\Zt 3"" "' '" ""•=' moding of your household ^tl '""^ •''» '^e discom- . .He pulled himserup confuse ""if/i" "''^ " h's customary politeness hnH '"J'^' ^''■'"••-' 'h'"" shamefully de^rted him with n"""';''"^ ^°' ""'^'^ part. " """ with no intention on his said^fc' iVke!"' ■' A? "r,^'"' -"■^^'^ding delicacy." personal inconvenienced of fiW?. ^'°" ^""''^ '=''''• "'y of the fact thaf a dear friend f'"'?""""^''' '" f'^" death's door. At alf events .u./ ^'"''' '"">' '^'^ »' mislead me not mnncfJ i "'^'^'^ '^ ^ "i'"'. 'f signs roof, a r..n:^\S^;'Sy'ZClnrt """''' '^'' man and a brave min%^^ ^"°^^ *"•"■ ^ strong genius. Hegoesout asTsav uT' '"."l" ^'^y- °^ intent^nofkilMcTSa^ Without consllSrus'mtv'},'"^"^'^-^ "^"^ 'hings on my honour, h^dmucYnr'J ''"J"^''''^' '"J' '"^d"; set^eyes on your Chamberlain^'-^'"''' "'"'' '° have and sSng°w^r; -?,'i ^et^Uh =. high head Come, come! I am not ^ fi, i .? '"^^"'*^ him— at my age. You ddTbera eUoth^^h'"^'?"-'^^'" • man." ""-'y sought this unfortunate " Monsieur the Duke of Arm,ii i, "T Zr"- '"'■'^ '''" nt fSlJ."' "^ "^""^ *''='' himeasy"toavoii,"1ai5"u;efe-^°K ^^'^ ''"""d .rrestrainable heat. "From the fir=; '"''? "^""^ '" ^n let us not be bcatine abo^t th k 1*"°'' """"^^ sir, all these evasions-Lm X ^t v'^' l"^ ''^' "^ ''-^ a meeting with M - .^ '^f anH v^'""' "''' '^"'^'"^^ gfeart, and your every act since tl 228 DOOM CASTLE. ^^L«^ *^ ♦^"r?T*'y •'^^ '^"^ "P t° this damned se^nf^ u " '"H'^u*" '?^ ""^ °f the bravest of servants. It was not the winds of heaven that blew TnnX^'"'* ^°"' ^'" '"*° t'''^ P^rt °f Scotland, and brought you m contact with my friend on the very first night of your coming here." ^ "And still M le Due, with iniinite deference, and a coolness that is partly due to the unpleasant fact (as you may perceive) that I have no coat on, 'twas tdt hfm,°il''f" "'^' ""'' y°?' •'^^-^t °f -^-"t' been dii^4.H T"..!"^ ^",^"*^" t''^'* ^""^ otherwise SlaK1ll.-° *'^ "^' "''J^^' °f -y being in „ J!?f*?"u^ ^^"^r \gesture of impatience. " I am not at the heart of these mysteries," said he, "but— thu"fh\ ""^ ''^■~^ ^"°^.^ ^■■^^t deal more about l^ ff r ff"" ^';^? '"^ "^^'^ '°'-- " it is your whim to affect that this wretched business was no mor™ nntrr^i P^^^^^^ jj^tween gentlemen, the result of a ^ « II .°r'' ^^"^^ "^ ^^^ 'i'^e in my house " Onr .fri,v"'*1,.*''^ ^°""*' "tliere lam all to blame, where inTh^.t^'"*°'t ^'"^'^^ '° \^^' °P^"^d ^l^^" for compW " * '''*"' ^°"^ '"'^'^^ ''^^ '^''y S^°-d c^I^Iv* '^'* '^^'■^ ^'f*^ '''^^'''•" ^^id the Duke, "and something else more closely affects me. I am expected o accept It, then, that tlie Comte de MonSn travelling incognito in the unassuming rdle of at°ne merchant, came here at this season simply from a fhTtaTtJT °".' "'^•"""'' ^"•"^'y- ^ had n^:,? thought the taste for dreary mountains and black glens had extended to the Continent." ^ "At least 'twas not to quarrel with a servant I •^ame here," retorted Count Victor. That is ill said, sir," said his Grace. " Mv hio^!?^?c''lf^"/^"!'^J'°"' °^ ''""stry of the best .,°i °f Scotland and the Isles underground." To that, M. le Due, there is an obvious and ancient retort-that therein he is like a So plant^ the best of him is buried." ^ ' THE CELL IN THE FOSSE. 229 Arpyll stood before the Frenchman dubious and embarrassed; vexed at the tone of the encounter, and convinced, for reasons of his own, that in one particular at least the foreigner prevaricated ye? impressed by the manly front of the gentleman whose affair had brought a morning's tmgedy so close upon the heels of an evening's^ mirth. Here was the sort of quandary in which he would naturally have consulted with his Duchess, but it was no Kambrr " """"'" *°' ""'^ '^' "^^ ^*'" '" ^er ''I assume you look for this unhappy business to be Jreated as an affair of honour? " he asked it last tr. ihl° I ■'' '■^P''^'^ *^°""t Victor, "though in truth^ the honour, on my word, was all on one side." term;""=n[H \l n 'j*'^"' *'''*^ '° P"* '* "J"'*^ '" these terms, said the Duke more sternly, " particularly as ^°" w M ^r,*"^""^ °"* °f'' s° far scathless5' Would M. le Due know how his servant com- pelled my— my attentions ? " fnn'^TP^"^'^ y°^'' att'^nt'ons! I do not like the tone of your speeches, monsieur. Dignity " Pardicu/ M. le Due. would you expect a surfeit of dignity from a man without a jacket ? " said the Count, looking pathetically at his arms. Dignity- 1 mean the sense of it— would dictate a more sober carriage in face of the terrible act you ^^lL^T""^^^^-c ^ *•" '^°'"S my best to find the slightest excuse for you, because you are a stranger here, a man of good family though engaged upon a stupendous folly, and I have before now been In the reverence of your people. You ask me if I know what compelled your attention (as you say) to my Chamberlain, and I will answer vou frankly that I know all that is necessary." J' ^ ' i„ j^* ^}V- ^^^ ^°""' ^^^ "'^'^^y amazed. This was. indeed, to put a new face on matters and make more regrettable his complacent surrender after his affair on the sands. " In that case, M. le Due," said he, " there is no 230 DOOM CASTLE. more to be said. I protest I am unable to compre- hend your Grace's complacence towards a roRue- even of your own household." AiwU rung a bell and concluded the interview. There has been enough of this," he said. "I skuatC v"°' •''""ly '■"''"'^ "-^^ '^^ P«"^ °f your situation. You came here-you will pardon a man ^ifhL''^^iT^-"'^ yP°° '^•^°'^ I know the facts- with the set design of challenging one who properly or improperly has aroused your passion; you have seTfZ^riM ''*. ^°V^^' ^"d must^not consi^ your- penaUy." ^ ' ^°" ^^^^ '° P^^ the possible . "Pardon, M. le Due, it is not so, always with ff.TJ^^^'^"''^' ^""^ *''^'°"t ^ <=°at'as I have Tad he boldness to remark before: my task had gone on gaily enough had your Monsieur MacTaggIrt not as I t'J'r™ °^ '°'"' inexplicable fever-unless as I sometimes suspect it were a preposterous iSsii^piT;^^ "^ ^'^ ^'^'™ °^ '-' ^''^ prZf^rS^SrinSp^n!^-: to tell the truth, the thing has been done with an unpardonably primitive absence of form. I am t!t?L^ 'ndifferent judge of such ceremonies; at my age— as you did me the honour to put it— that IS only to be expected, but we used, when I was our friend the enemy out to be killed. What ^ nf th. f^^^K''.'''^!}'*vt*'"^ encounter before the law of the land but a deliberate attempt at murder ? it would be so even in your own country under the cir- rnr^ct "'"/ ^^' °P^"^'^ '" villanously bad cir- ScfTtJ, J°" ^^^^i" error to assume that the SLdhms.'"'' -av be waived even among the A servant entered. "Take this gentleman to the fosse," said the THE CELL IN THE FOSSE. 231 ?;eh„:;S„*i!^ ""^ °^ ^*^^' - •^^ voice and his "At least there is as little form about mv incar- ""mv" ?ath^"* ^P^"" '^"1''" '^^^ Cou„rv!ctor ,„nimL • ■'^°"''^ ''^ve been somewhat more Duk?^^nH\"H""'*"?"u' ""^^ 'hese," said the t^X f^u' ^y "^^ven ! the old style had its merits too; but these are different days, though, if I were you, I fancy I'd prefer the short 'shrift of Long David Ltelrll^rd!^^ ''"'"'' '=^"- «' ^-"^ - Vh to Count Victor said never a word, but placed the the open air he felt it in his coatless condition more ^sf '"He sh-'''' ^P'^^if"-- -t his position o^her! wise. He shivered as he walked alone the fosse the°fil'?flt''' ^'"^ " '^''^'^ "°rth wfLd drivng fiJ ^''■5 °^ ^" approaching snowstorm. Thf fosse was wule and deep, girding the four-square castle, mantled on its outer walls by dense ivv where a few birds twittered. The wall was brokYn at intervals by the doors of what mighTvery wll" serve as cells if cells were wanted, and it wL 7o one " Mv fafth'T.* ^'T '"""'^ hi^-lf cTnsigneT My faith, Victor, thou art a fool of the first Itjl" *'•' '■."* *? ^''^''" ^' he realised the igno- mTn?'/" "*"^"r°"- ■ ^°' he was in the most d"s- fo7wh';t1-^?' ^"^.t'""""' ■" sepulchral darkness over th« i^ * m-ght have entered by a little window over the door was obscured by drifted snow. By-and-by his eyes became accustomed to the obscurity, and he concluded that he was in wha? had at one time been a wine-cellar, as bottles were racked against the back wall of his arched apartment! They Zr'lcL'"^'^"^ ""fi™-d his instinct on that point quickly enough, for the events of the morninileft aaa DOOM CASTLE. 'f' ill iAs":tJr^!^SZ7k " -^v--fort. tice miscarr edT burat no Hrn» i,PS'u'''''*y °^ J"=- savage reprisds such as h.T i'''"* he any fear of Mun|o Boyd kiked him . • ^^""^d him when For this was not whollv th» -i/ '"darkness. he was Uied in cattomhc ^"^f^ }'' awhile that that he felt he rsfdt°S,T3l "hS° ^^'^^^'""^ There was but one way to do so H« 1 ^ u • b'^eaklSasr^^^" th^i„twove"U*^or°." ^'1 "HaTf ^' ='".'? "'^^ wi nof: tlurinTone "'^^ doors, was standing one of fL * ^ "'^ *''f <=^*t'e means of exit from t'he Sis^rd^eS SL?3r""^ atIu\5rntshfSe r ""'^^^"^ "y thf l^icher; he had observed ft and T?.'^'"* i?-'"Sgest that when some ti^e later ?n th f '^ ""^'l.'"^ ^^""t '* THE CELL IN THE FOSSE. 233 His warder was a dumb doe, a sauirt pvp,1 r«. 234 CHAPTER XXX. A DUCAL DISPUTATION. If Count Victor, buried among cobwebs in the fos« stung by cold till he shivered as in a auartan ^^l' suffering alternately the chagrin of the^bunderTlf' discovered and the apprehension of a loom W fate 9^a^pSl-af^-rSt^S^ S^ion^ri:^^.S£-^J^^£ fnlli'^ ^ T^^^l:- ^'^^^^ '^^ Sood cirizen qu3d code^'^^ir*'''' °W.Highla„d gentlemln whose code o. morals was not m strict accord with written but" Un h"h '\^> a kinS of p"=' ^rift care- '? lift a hand. I daresav^/ !-'^°'' "'^^'^ 'ack of will nghts of it after aU-h:^„^trh'"'\J'^^" '« ■" «^e ^antmg his skill of th^ simola in^f '^"" '"'^ <="^^: for ever to himself and off '"'•T'^-"' ^hat was wanting his outward pleasW foL'"!"""^^*'""' «nd good man to the very ma?row^ A?' ^ '''"^ "^^n a Ay I and doubtless an .m^JT/ -^""^ man ! H'm ' doctor I have you any herb ?or?h*'"^ "-"t °°<=to"i . " Does your Grarp ho *.• ^y^sight ? " lotion- " "^'^^ ^^"^ a dimness? I know a suffer I™ thfrest" So^.r""""?" '^'^<=ase. and I , 'ength of my nose " ^°'"^'»"es I cannot see the cried the^*^?1eecT^?,Sl"'•J-' the stomach," tion " *^ ^''"- My own secret prepara- am'sI^e'toTh TCTo^XSl^"''' "T^^"^' -" -t, I himself is in it. J cm sHl . ~™P'aint or the deW deer on Tom-a-chr^chdr' anV«aHlr ^S^-'''- letters my enemies send m^ but m?\ 'u1 scurviest cannot understand the flrgcofet "^ ""'''" '' ^''^^ ^ wildSl«^?I°Si„g-^-ce-^said Maclver be- '' y"" ^P°''e of your eyesight." »3» DOOM CASTLH. i • «f I'hf "*^ *°i^ ^'''- ^ '=*""°* ** through the mysteries fnt„ tK^' ' ' f"""."* understand why man should com' into the world with fingers so apt to fankL that T» cannot Dlay the finest Les allThe time andin the best or manners. These, however, are but idle Ku» "!• J^^""'* *t^ "°''''= Juri^iction of the mJ.^''!^ *^*'"^' y"""" Grace; and the constant use of my styptic, a most elegant nostrum, your Grace that " ThU ^r'^T Tk""= '^r "^'^ ^'^L up the glen?" the nuk/° J^ °^ "" '5'"^ "'"y "" °"^'^ honour," sa d fhl' \^^^^ "° ''^"?* °^ complaint, your Grace," said the doctor complacently, "except that nowadays honournor nothing else rarely seni so nice Hase^f hemorrhage my way. An inch or two to the left and A^tf ^^^^'^ would have lifted his last rents!" "^ Agyll grimaced with distaste at the idea. Poor Sim ! said he. " And my tenants would have lost a tolerant agent, though I might e^ily find FrenV°h^'' T% "'?'}^y°^^ °f them. Condem/that t^e SiX"" ^ "^'^ '^^ ^^°^' ^" °^ them were at ♦k " J* "^f"'*^ "^^*'' ^^^^ "^n a fair fight this " said **>e doctor, spreading a plaster. ' ^ There never was a fair fight," said ArevU "or ten Zfi ^"'^ '•''" "'''^^^ °f the menwT/eft ?o ever w!n." ^"' """" ^'''^ '"°^' advantages mus? "fl^tllr^^'t""^ -^^"^ ^^^ •'«'■«'" said the doctor wiffn'iilsTigt'rmT '^*^''*'"^ -'^^ ^" -"-'^'^ of thlt/°""'^^'^ """ ' " '="^'* ^'^y"- " ^ "«^^^ heard fi,^* .was a wound so recent, the doctor pointed out that It made the duel madness. He turned over the neck of h,s patient's shirt and showed the cicatrice angry and ugly. " A stah ton I " --: "J "^ cicatrice. stab, too ! " said he. A DOCAL DISPUTATION. 239 "^■"l"^?" said the Duke said the'Kn ""utr '^ "7"^' ^''h '^ «word " and come out at the back ^""' '=''-'''" ""■""S'' ""e al Ifs th^'r'eaf ^ 'K^ Jfi Ld'^^ ''r " — :' fome days back, for whi^h I Lt th m ''''^«««ion of love-affair of his. He never hrLf K 5'"""* "P°" ^on^e me, nor I suppose to yoS? • • ^*'""' ^ ^"'"^ °f '« to -id thTdS" ••bu"t'Th/'rorH°'^"y°"-'-." healed of itself ^ far without"! '^"^.' '° '""^^ for It." '"' witnout anything being done do no°£e Voffislhln" ''"= ''5"'°"^ styptic-can all- Poor Sim I w„„^ ^ l^""'' constitution after And yet-to 'l^Jarhl^thtf ';?^*'''^ '=^'"' °'- h"s brow so calm, his Touth-^ " '^"=^?° ^^tle, From a distant part ^ thl V^' P""' ^'m ! " arose, crying, "Afchi. a l'"'"'^ ^ woman's voice crescendo: if was ?he n-h "' '-■" '" ^ ''"earing not heard of The'day-s untowlVr^ "' ^«.' ^''^ had went out and told heT^ently -Ifr " i'f " "« on when her aeitatmn h,T l ."^ "°W' he went Chevalier?" *^""'°n had abated, "what of our ** Well I ** e 'J I. not to suffer for tht'seewV ^"^ ' ^ "ope he is get better, for I shou d delrS'liL"^^"^ '^ r"& ^o some return for his quest "^ '"''^ '° "ave him get sta Jaf C "?"«==." said the Duke the Jo t t^aX^nTo'/C^^^ ^°""« ^* -»^ " unexMctedfv'^°??h"°' '="'' '° '"'^'= *' mentioned too his arm around her waist y°""''". and he put With every regard for v™,r f^ ^nef acquaintance. y regara tor your favour to the Chamber- lain, A DUCAL DISPUTATION. 241 ".any stories liUIe tX 'cre7t '• " "°"'''' ^°' ' »'•'''' 's it not so ? •• """'^fl 'e"°w. Come now ! Jean, fonirfiSe«'"''ft' C'"' ""''' !:"'«" -'h delicate with hlr Duk"" ' ""^^ "'^''^ her habit to argue coSclmeif%t1ar^"'"«'y' ""°"«°fthat, but «id shTSSSt^S"" *'"' Duke of Argyll." her gown inSelylourtesr-'J;"! '^, "•T^'"' 't .s not good for him-at hls^age •' "^''*' ""«* the worst-the oZJ^ofl"" ^' ^'T* '' " have no charity left for th«-^^r'^°'"^" *hat they own sex or of mine Le^L^^v^'^i'"^^" "^ their bad or gooi in his bi^ ^T" ^'"^ ^' 'he best, been, k^d or cruel XehtJf/""^ "^^ ''^^^ pagan, admirable or ev'l as th."°°-i''' P'""" °' tj^ining or experience shall'deerm?ne"T 1°' •"'" older I grow more tolerant fnr IK 1 ^ ^ ^"^ my own scanty virtues^n^' °' ' ''^^^ '^^^ed that own creation thanXduZ/'^?' "^ ■"° '""^^ '"X father-or my red hair " ' "'""'= '"*" fr""" "V bulV^ddirh'fatfi'n^leraJoIH''"^^^^^ "-' -", pulled a curi upoihrten,^?I'^'"./'?"<^^he gently Frenchman? Is he to lieTrP h " ^hat about our sends for him or m th *he fosse til, the Sheriff forgiven l^^Tfor te lin^ llm ' h**"'=^""^". "^"^ has the age of thirty?" ^ '"'" ^^ ^^^ ^ little over said^h: Du"; flfmlr '^BVrr°' 'r, ^"^ -=^y." not tolerate so scanH»l..;= ^°i?^"^- We could show of law and-^^- ^" "'^^'^ ^''hout some 342 DOOM CASTLE. "Tolerate I" said the Duchess. "You are v^rv Shra^el S*a'f"4^'i'=''*''' f "'^ -» ^ecTuse^h^ littfe the worl for t • ^'^^^ gentleman who will be ♦h.-it .. u ^ *°' '* '" a week or two. Let ne think, she went on banteringly-" let us think ^.h^t Her husband stopped her with a kiss, trinl LT^* °^ *''^*' J^^"; the man must thole his '^^J^^iiZ'iZl^'-J'' '-- '-^ -n i' r ,Ja"^ "^^^ one tone of her husband's his wife knew pu ation came the sound of cries. Out^to the dtk elXS"^^'^"*"-^* "'^ head an^tdt hI'^™^''^'"' u'?'^u'* f °"« ' " "'ed somebody. his^ciTnance"^ ''=^'' "'''' ^ -"'^ ^*-^^^-g °n Hi CHAPTER XXXI. FLIGHT. ^^''co^^l7oZe':rZlf:'J^" "^ Montaiglon chan:oal.fire"s1/r Ih^^^lTZt be' ^l ^""^ ^^ and stands, an edifice evertheDnR"'' '"1 "Z™^' taste to envy, upon thrm^ccil ?" ^arry had the break apart a & to fhf f °1 ^^? 'P^'^^ ^hich Saint Germain-eTLave h^ "*^^°^ '''" ''°^««t °f oddly inconsisten? &J3 oTltr""",*' ""'' dramatics, the manner of hi ^r *"«' t^nse in the fosse of thereat M^r •'m'^ ^'■°" ">« c^" his acutest memory^^as of tht'''"^ A^d always of the evening air? h^ temnnr, '^'"PP«ng rigour helplessness u|on the vergHf th7 f''"?'" "^ ""^'• "Figure you I Charles ^^InnM i, ^^"*astic wood. blooded ^„d of forty yearTaio in' T' "J^^ *'''"- coat and a pair of dancin/fu '" ^ hrpcaded waist- through a labyrinth of demfnt°!' ^^^}"S his way with cold an/half wlth'tTrZ ^ ^^%^'''^"ing haft bagne of Toulouse only that hi kn.' ^ ^T^"' •^°'" '^^ from what he fled nor whtLf ^"^"^1°' Particularly should be turned I h^l'ZnTnt''^ -^""'''^ same place-have we no^ w "^^^ smce-tfie 'tis as*;weet and frienZ* S'"'"'--^."'^ ^ ^v°w neighbourhood; but then in ?h'.^' ^"^ '" °"^ own black, and grey I was hke a chiMP^.'*''""*- "'«*'' °< tmy thicket Jith the ieUifa^TThffhS 244 DOOM CASTLE. m. spectre. There is a stupid feeling comes to neonle T^fTUlt ^^t "''« crrcumstances,That th^are dead that they have turned the key in the lock of ife^ as we say, and gone in some abstoction into the f 7n Zh fh^/'^u-- "^^f ^° ^ felt' n,essreS°and cftiily. I shall ask P6re Antoine to let me have a ^Ir ^;V* ^> "P°^* ''"fef"! momen?s-4omet1?n"s ^o^ ^^-^u^ l"^ imagination, though ^ays wel- come; with Its general aspect of vague sweefsLness played upon by fleeting smiles, her l.>s desirable to e«L ^'^^ ^^ ^"i"^ ^'^ "P°" the'" in oS wi d ecstasy, her eyes for depth and purity the «rv sThe"d 1^ Th '; ^^' "ved%reathed!moU smneS^ ^e C^^ skt ?W K^"'*r ^t'-o^Phere under the »nie grey sky that hung low outs de his cell • the ame snowfall that he could catch a dimDse of through the tiny space above his do^r wfs T^n by ter that moment in Doom; she must brtaki^g the favour of the sea as he could sometimes do in blfssed moments even m this musty oublietU. on « «,^X Pf^*^' r "''"^ 'l^y w'th the dusk coming A^fn f h» 1^^ "•"/ aperture above the door. And all the world outside seemed wrapped in silence Twice again h.s warder came dumbly se^ii^g a 'mell' remote from any hfe and wholly forgotten. There ^^V^^'k?^ ^"- ^'"'°"s °f 0«^ one other thing to comfort him; it was when he heard briefly 4m some distant part of the castle the ululation of™ ^Te^^lVct "UT""'^ ^''^t '' assu?e"d him' ai au events the Chamberlain was not dead anH was more probably out of danger. And £ ^e FLIGHT. 245 draushrti;L^/h*'",!,"P°",*'>f ''^■^'^ °^hi^ held The draught, that should surely be entering, was blowin| boldes '^ ""^ ^'"^y of marshalled empty "ro«»«T«/- said he to himself, "I have besun hL ^T' *' ^'"^ merchant rather late in Hfe^? had taken more interest in these dead gen emen Sts- k^ us I^'-r"' '" '''^''^^'J^ °f his Grace's hnl« *}. 1 ^* '^ "°^ y"" do not conceal some holes that were for poor Montaiglon's profit." undrh^°"u'^'/"i''^'^ '^'"^ °"t of tW positions until he could intrude a sensitive hand behind the shelves where they had been racked. ^ 1 nere was an airy npace. " Tres bon I mem, messieurs Us cadavres oerhan.! I >ay forgive you even yet for bein^ eZt^'-? ^^P' ^ ^ — o-.- j>^>. c.cii yet for being empty, Hope surged, he wrought eagerly; befo long he 346 DOOM CASTLE. had Cleared away a passage-that ended in a dead exSr7e'nce^'''^H': had" then^'r "* T ""-* "^ "« illusion I OnI?l blank wal? f h" ^^' ''°°' °^ ^^ every inch of it within rpl?hK *"'^ fingers searched but masono., cSfa^ry 'sSSr " ""'"-^ A delusion after all r '• k- ^ '. j •, . appointed. " A delusion L^ .'"'u'*' '""^'"'y dis- been at the bottom of a' hnt.."°V'''? ''"' ^^^^ has almost resigned hh^sl,ral^ntn°l-^'"'-" • "^ ^ad when the puffing currenf ^.f ,/'^ mprisonment stagnant within Ve "ell 'Lr^"/'^ t**^" that time, more keenly felt hlnh^f"" u°' ^^^ ^''°'"i warm with his exertions TV °5^' ''?'^^"^« ^^ was had come from?omewh "re over'th T *"? 'f'^*''=^t '' Back he dragged his box anH V^'^^^' of his head, the bottle-binfand felt h;A ^°°'^ ?P°" "' behind could do standing? to'discfc Tf •^.^^" !.''^" ^e about nine feet from the floor a L ^^^^^ '^°'^ an mcompleted curtain n^rf^fl "^ "'^^ apparently some space farther in P^""°"'"& his cell from thiSLlrta^^sSkss^P'^'-J"^ ^". ^^-- fro- one he occupied he DMllin I- "'■'ff'y'han from the intervening ^an\Mwered™iml'5r ''^ *^^ side. At the full stret h nf r!"''^'^ °^er the other touch anythingZh hbtet A. T"' ^" ^^"«<1 *<> came to him : he wouIH hf ' ^° ala^mg thought but the top of the wall Lh^ PJ!"^ ''''"^^'f balk, a mass of rotten morhr^f crumbhng to his fingers break below his^X'. h''"'T "^*='' '"°"'^"t to of the diaphragm that now th'^'""*^ ^'''^ ^ ^P^sm What— this waf his thV>Tr *''?^ ^^= no retreat. n...Mth of a we 1 ? Or a^J!*7^''f * '^ this were the He had seen such things i^F^'^^l *''^P, ^o^ fools ? pitch darkness he could Z """^ "^^l^^' ^^ the above an abyss or had fh ^"*f "whether he hung his straining^toes' ^ ^°'""^ '"''hin an inch of To die in a pit ! FLIGHT. 247 prJriateco"„du£ra'lig°''lr'^" '"- th^ ap- air adventure, " u"sh °e! glr^'^nd "h'^' °^°^"- The sweat streamed uoon hl^' (^ ''^^i'^ '" '*? vainly to hang by one Thi ^ ^^"^ ^' *>« strove cope of the dm&W wall /-^""' ^"^ '^^"'^ the otfier ; he stretched hi tL! "m' V ''^ ^'''^ ^''^ cramped, his eves in t»,« !> t '., '"^ muse es cloud^is brearXft ^fl^^^^'Mled with a red thrashing through cml' * '""°" °^ ^is body slipping ^finge?s"i,re,S:"m t'C' ='"'' ''•'' another minute I ™ *"^ mortar in naSarJn^^LdTl£%S cVTl'^f '^'>' »>- made him loosen his gri" '^ "'"^^"'^ '''^ ^rain and He fell less than a yard i' te:^oT,rdXn*s't%St e° 't"^*" ^' '^'^ ^-"^h in which he fou^d himself '■^&'^.'^'' new place the walls on either hLnd rnn7 . V'- ^"^ ^^sher; of a lobby; he felt hf, 1-, '^'^'^^ '"*» the space before heM £ co^viSthal he '"'"'^ P^"" of tunnel. But fieure a en !• ^- "^^^ '" ^ s°rt connection with a prion cen?"r""* *""""' '» to be true. ^ "" ' " "^s too good boSf p,rngfriLrrtv° """^^ ^^- y«*. "e him that thi c«;Tsi: wonW ''' '^^'°" ^^^"^ng But for once re" ^s wroL'Th' '°°"" ''' '=*"^■■ ever before him more a ^w^ ''^ Passage opened and odorous? but wThnevel'^rK"^"^' ^'^^^^ dank useless anr^^lirLtr^' atgXr^^'^''^'^ ^^ wanrtX\':t^r^"" '•'^-^-hen he continuous, ho"fo7roar aTof wT„h'^-" P'°'°"?«d. wonder and push^ed'*;n'^U"1.% £°°a^.-'?: £| 248 DOOM CASTLE. open eagerly, keen to^Xe^het^.aPKoise' back in infin!J ^"'^S^ ^''°*^ concaves echoed fc "."M - !»»,,/„ y«Y,om hf.S; Sdt covery of his escape might be made at any moment ; FLIGHT. and ( 249 foiW«"i"„7hettJh ""^"^'^ ""^ •'^ '"■'^"^ have climwfh^K'"'?*^^!."^ ^^^ uncovered grass he whTr^lhl ''*"'' f"** '°"S'" t''^ shelter of a th'cke? ~f&r^h;°ToS^^^^^^^^^^^ ^^a^St^i^-isSHSs bonds behind him, plainly asking the world to null was gathered by the wind in alleys and waJls For gotten was the cold in his hurried flight through th^ !lon of yej^r*'"^ *"' ^"^ '" *he shelter of a pknta- v^il""^•thZ^f'll\^^ ^'rught while in this occu- pation, why should I not have a roquelaire ? If hi<: very ungracious Grace refuses to see when a man | cisiin""*^"'*"'" u"^ l"'' *hen came to a bold de- cision. He would, perhaps, not only borrow a colt Zh^^r''*^''^ nakedness,1,ut furtheLore c^er^s flight by the same strategy. The onlv olace in thl neighbourhood where he could obscure Cfoo'fsteJ" perwtnlh"^'* ""r^*^" T' '" *he cattle k^r perhaps in the very fosse whence he had made his ^cape There the trafiic of the day was Cnd to 5f"a rfd I 77^ tracks, amongst whlh the imprint of a red-heefed Rouen shoe would never advertise 23° DOOM CASTLE. iure^oA";l'*-r' '°° ^P J"=* *° "'«'' 8° bold a ven- pn,dence suggested that he hould '^Ulome S Was his flight discovered vet? If not if a massive sta r— " Here's a Drpfti r.r^M t . PP*'' aio^g r tgfsK:? tt i;^^jr° a/T- -r ^Ve": r th'^'^ ^"'^ dartfcos'td"^ to^a posiern in the eastern tnrrpt tu^ j "^ , FLIGBT 251 Ph^Testl^r^l'ht:'-/^^^^^ for a second or for the security of his retre^ if f h!f "^ ' ''*'*"*=« There was a fire elowlnTfn fV ^1 "^^"^ necessary. ing ^Pectacfe fortSw ^PgeT^r^ 'TT burned w thin a pIsbq =h=!i^ reiugee— a dim hght a tableladen \?th dm^ wfu "^"^*''* ""*"*«'• a"d side of a heav^f cu'Sd'U" '""" "^ *° *"« and nTth^ll^alt'^paf 'll^r";."'^ ^' ^ «'-«' the sight of a ?oatC^"a Ktcoaflura"'" *'" ^1V\Ai °^-^air^ffs^tk5"SleVt°h"* wh'SrS v^h^s. rJiju-d t hisT-;-'"' &=-^-S^iSi^^^^ the coat: it haH 9 fo^.-i.-^ ^ h • "= examined v-nturcd J„nfj. searchintr ^mi^ , multitude ,. -0. --—V.....15 nulla a mum dim rush-hght till he came upon one 35a DOOM CASTLB. «V. h^ '^'ff«'«''t from it8 neighbour, only inumnch Thi mn»* ^"S^*! ?°"° P*'"t*^ »"°« the panels n h?. fi ' ^°""' y"='°' °"'=« «"«"* took h« vafour WentA»"T" ''"'**""'«<» th« handle. " ReVenL bient6t he was whispering softly to himself as he Sn' W,'l^ P"k'"='' J" *"« 4°'- The sen^en^ fro« on his lips when he saw the Duchess seated in a chair, and turned half round to look at him. *S3 CHAPTER XXXII. HER GRACE THE DUCHESS. S^chess"C **"! '"°'"«"'^0' embarrassment of °he her mercy "°' P"'"P'"'* '»'"' '° P"' himself a? .,M^»''T*"^ pardons, Madame la Duchesse " he said standmg m the doorway. "/, v,mdSc " She rose from her chair composed^ a S of Si S !rair'"„'f Pr.''^"^ rrtline^;. an/Xve fr;»J^i- o.."*^ *''^' ""e flattered himself was friendlmess She directed him to a seal said- "but if'T " """pelted, monsieur," she s^P|^se.^;Uat'^s^ theTu-e'p ^^f'de^SSeP '^ hSd"'l^";s' ^p^^^^'"^ busfneSX; cajr husband to the town, and he is unlikely to be back for another hour at least. If monseur-as rsLafed!!^"'*"" '^ "°* *•>« cue-:;^l,"pkLTo' Count Victor was puzzled for a second or two but came farther into the room, and, seeing the hdv resume her seat, he availed himself of he?1nvitatton and took the chair she offered. '"vitation Madame la Duchesse," he went on to sav with some evidence of confusion that prejudic^ h« *$4 DOOM CASTLE. the more in his favour, " I am, as you see, in the drollest circumstances, and — pardon the beliie — time IS at the moment the most valuable of mv assets." ^ "Oh I" she cried with a low laugh that gave « ??if? °[ "'^ sunniest disposition in the world — Oh! that IS not a pretty speech, monsieur I tJut there! you cannot, of course, know my powers of entertainment. Positively there need be no hurry. On my honour, as the true friend of a gentleman who looked very like monsieur, and was, by the way, a compatriot, I repeat there is no occasion for haste. I presume monsieur found no servants —those stupid servants I— to let him into the house, and wisely found an entrance for himself? How droll ! It IS our way in these barbaric places ; people just come and go as they please ; we waive ceremony. By the way, monsieur has not done me the honour to confide to me his name." "Upon my word, Madame la Duchesse, I — I forget It myself at the moment," said Count Victor, divining her strategy, but too much embarrassed to play up to her lead. " Perhaps madame may re- member. She drew down her brows in a comical frown, and then rippled into low laughter. " Now, how in the world should I know if monsieur does not ? I that have never "—here she stared in his face with a so- lemnity in which her amusement struggled—" never to my knowledge, seen him before. I have heard the Duke speak of a certain Monsieur Soi-disant ; perhaps monsieur is Monsieur Soi-disant ? " " Sam doute, Madame la Duchesse, and madame's very humble servant," acquiesced Count Victor relieved to have his first impression of strategy con- firmed, and inclining his head. She looked at him archly and laughed again. " I have a great admiration for your sex, M. Soi-disant " she said ; " my dear Duke compels it, but now and then— now and then— I think it a little stupid. Not HER GRACE THE DUCHESS. jj, all theTime fo ^t hfm aj^elsf"' "'^ •"J!"' *°!J'" are obviously not at eas^ i^ , , ','^ •'='""''- X"" Soi-disant." " " '^''"'■' ■'"" ieur Vil'.'* '■ '.?"'? I***' Madam, ii !)ur|„ s^" ,„ „♦ an evil habit, and under the ciVc , r^ -, .?• '''"' inconvenient to get rid of" ' ""^'- -^ i» as see'-'w l!"i„? "«!'?"» 'coat, monsieur. Let me U is ve?t like""' ^ [T''"*^ '°°''; Oh ! I remembeT! Knliir felloU'r^lj""".^'''' the Duke's Cham- of his accTent i^d lilltr;^^''°"''''^ ^^'''^ -^ofdanger;ard^rk'i\'?a-Jra:J^'^ repTSrnl^mSnTsSr''"^ "''" *°° '^'^'y'' '"' tj^^hrLrniotir^-^^^^^^^^ Count" Jnf"°'^''^2"b"es«. in prison," added the neTof his o^n.""'"^ ^^'*^''"" °' --« '"ventite! w« fnl L^?' K °* "^""'r "'«! tl'e Duchess. " He " I d^rV«v";I'^''* ^,°""* ^'"^t"^ *"h nonchalance 256 DOOM CASilE. I The Duchess coughed. 1 ne Count hemmed. They both broke into laughter. the pui^suit is neither hot i'heartr'y.'; '''^' '°' selves, monsieur it ;^ '""rneartj. Between our- meet this ~„' ^Upea^rf fh" *• u" J T'« *» th^^^:s^s£S^^^-^'i ges^orth^ casL^"r-r,7S.:orfc^ sai?cl^f^iSf^r/--". Madame la Duchesse," determined on hTs' punfshLnr ^^^'^ ^^^ Duke is proper-fromhis GrL"e%1?i^n'J';ft:^.^ of course ven^mo^sler TheVkf ,^ ''/ '^"^''°^' «-". a if I were to tell the truth T '^^°^^^^^' though, saw no evidence of it in thp' ^""^'e""- Soi-disant, I met him C ntht Tl^'^l'^Sent^^^nv^he'n I --eyou. AreSAsiet-sTe „'oTSf,,fe"o-. ^ "fe: ?»h1 JiSr ^"'^^^^^^^^^^ under his chair. "ThSettl°"'^^^y'. *"'=''mg them a foible with me " experiments m costume are made^hl^sntfortS -^^^^^^^ '^^f'^' -"-^ hstening and apVhe^lLTX-n'^hT&S*- airim^rSTo 'iit"h!m'^^s'^" ^!f = ^— co.r.pa„y makes little amendT for Ws'^hf^ '"^u'^' ■s as I say, he will not be L^t f absence; but it You are mterested, doubtless i^th^""!^? .''°"- human nature: for me T^J,!'" '^.^ .oddities of the transparency orthe sTrata ' m?"^^"?'''"^ ^* S^n^SSi^'I-'ffe^^^ into the compa„yVtSSeS.-lttV;r^^ HER GRACE THE DUCHESS. 357 for dancing-shoes to w^Jl\^^^'°:^'' °^ y"" f°'We weather. As I was sa^n^ v""^'' '"°^ '« ^"<=h stupid sex sometimes b^u?^a ^n"//* "°* ""'^ ^^e I wiUlet you into a little secrTth'f'P"""* °"«- you that what I sayof our Colt^WW^^^?"^'"'=« not being hunted is true I ,^°""*. ^hat's-his-name Duke is delighted to have th.c c ''"'j^'^'early that the the shockinf TinssZeul,^^''-^°^''^^^l--°i^^ shut up. In the forenoon h **°"S'?Hr Soi-disant !- that pSor Count WhTdolZT'^l^^'^^^''^^^'^^^ personal reason that I ml^T^f"''"'" '^°'" ^P"'-ely njainly because"his dutj ^^^J^'C f '''''• ^"* thin(a^ittroSrfg?ye'"^"^y- -y fortable, monW? 1 fefr fh.f t ^""i ''"'*^ «=""'- you)-I am a foolish seiSmlnf r ^'^ ^^^ "°' «">« and I may tell vou I nl»!^ T "*'''^^*' *^ ^ have said, of this lu?k e s^Xatrfot'of''''^ ''"'1^°^ "'^ '^^^^ the fosse. ButroTdear huT'' '^''° ^^ *••«« '"n as is the way ^th dukes a l.?f? *t? ^'^^'"^"t. and I pleaded iSvai^"' * ^^^ '" ''^'^ «=°"°t«y. goSS?' '"'''™' ' ''^ ""'^ had his duty as a bern'ScaSnsinlfstot^H"''-' "''"* *''- "ave subjects have been noS'e ZT"^ '?"' ^''^n S°^d Monsieur can stfll foflow me ? "''' °'" ''"^''^<^^- toSl'2e?GrTcSete"nT''l'-'^ --•'^'J the gift of expeSkTon 'He tfci' '"i^ "T "^ sword and found a sermon "'^ '°°'''"e '^"^ a ••iwa^To„\rs2;^tra;':fcr£^^^^^^^^^ do h.s duty, even It the So/ tL^felSl JHff^^ itSfi DOOM CASTLE. heart, it was obvious to me he was all the time sorry to have to do it, and when we heard that our French- man had escaped I, take my word for it, was not the only one relieved." "I do not wonder, madarae," said Montaiglon, " that the subject in this case slMokl capitulate to — to— to the " " To the loving husband, you were about to say. La ! you are too gallant, loonsienr, I declare. And as a matter of fact the true explanation is less to my husband's credit and less flattering to me, for he had his own reasons." " One generally has," reflected the Count aloud. " Quite ! and in his case they are very often mine. Dear Archie ! Though he did not think I knew it, I sa-w clearly that he had his own reasons, as I say, to wish the Frenchman well cut of the country. Now could you guess what these reasons were ? " Coont Victor confessed with shame that > was beyond him. " I will tdl you. They were not his own interests, and they were not mine, that influenced him : I had DC* to think very hard to discover that they were the interests of the Chamberlain. I fancy his Grace knows that the less inquiry there is into this encounter the better for aB concerned." " I daresay, Madame la Duchesae," agreed Count Victor; "and yet the world speaks well of the Chamberlain, one hears." '"Woe unto vou when all men speak well of you ! ' " quoted the Duchess sententiously. " It only happens when the turf is in our teeth," said the Count, " and then De mortuis is a motto our dear friends use more as an excuse than as a moral." " I do not like our Chamberlain, monsieur ; I may frankly tell you so. I should not be surprised to learn that my husband knows a little more about him than I do, and I give you my word I know eiiough to consider him hateful." " These are most delicate considerations, Madame BE« GRACE THE DUCHESS. aS9 fa Ducbesse," said the Co»nt, vastly charmed by ter manner hot naturally desirous of the open air. Every step he heard m neighbouring lobbies, every sJainmed door, spoiled his attention to the lady's confidences, and he had an uneasy sense that she wa« not wholly uraamused at his predicament, how- ever much his friend. " Delicate considerations, true, but I fear they do not interest Monsieur Soi-disant. How should they mdeed ? Gossip, monsieur, gosMp ! At our age, as you might say, we must be chatterinf;. I know yoa are uncomfortable on that chair. Do, monsieur, please take another." This time he was convinced of his first suspicion that she was having her revenfje for his tactless reirork to her husband, for he had not stirred at all m his chair, but had only reddened, and she had a smile at the corners of her mouth. "At my age, Madame la Duchesse, we are quite often impertinent fools. There is, however, but one age— the truly golden. We reach it when we fall first in love, and there love keeps us. His Grace, Madame la Duchesse, is, I am sure, the happiest of men." She was seated opposite him. Leaning forward a httle, she put forth her hand in a motherly unem- barrassed way, and placed it for a moment on his knee, looking into his face, smiling. " Good boy ! good boy ! " she said. And then she rose as if to hint that it was time for him to go. " I see you are impatient ; perhaps you may meet the Duke on his way back." "Charmed, Madame la Duchesse, I assure you," said the Count with a grimace, and they both fell into laughing. She recovered herself first to scan the shoes and coat again. " How droll ! " said she. " Ah, mon sieur, you are delightful in your foibles, but I wish it had looked like any other coat than Simon Mac- 26o DOOM CASTLE. Taggart's. I have never seen his without wondering how many dark secrets were underneath the velvet. Had this coat of yours been a perfect fit, believe me I had not expected niuch from you of honour or of decency. Oh I there I go on chattering again, and you have said scarcely twenty words." " Believe me, Madame la Duchesse, it is because I can find none good enough to express my gratitude," said Count Victor, making for the door. " Pooh ! Monsieur Soi-disant, a fig for your grati- tude I Would you have me inhospitable to a guest who would save me even the trouble of opening my door ? And that, by the way, reminds me, monsieur, that you have not even hinted at what you might be seeking his Grace for ? Could it be — could it be for a better fit in coats ? " " For a mere trifle, madame, no more than my sword." "Your sword, monsieur? I know nothing of Monsieur Soi-diaaat's sword, but I think I know where is one might serve his purpose." With these wcnnb she went out of the room, hur- ried along the corridor, and returned in a moment or two with Count VictM-'s weapon, which she dragged back by its belt as if she loathed an actual contact with the thing itself. " There ! " she said, affecting a shudder. " A moiife and a rapier, they are my bitterest horrors. If you could only guess what a coward I am ! Good night, monsieur, and I hope — I hope " — she laughed as she hung on the wish a moment — " I hope you will meet his Grace on th' vay. If so, you may tell Imi 'tis rather inclement we:, her for the night air — at his age," and she laughed again. " If you do not see him — as is possible— rcome back soon ; look ! my door bids you in your own language — Revenez bientot. I am sure he will be charmed to see you ; and to make his delight the more, I shall never mention you were here to-night." She went along the lobby and looked down the HER GRACE THE DUCHESS. 2fil "Madame la Duchesse, you are very magnani- mous." he said, exceedingly grateful. ^ ^ _^ Imprudent, rather," she corrected him. Magnanimity and Prudence are cousins who praise fe6« rivers that i^ h«^' I °"^'' .''"""^ "''^^^ =»"? his horse, a tramplfng con- queror (as he fancied); the Count trudged shame- fully undignified through snow that came^high u^n danrfn "f,"°*=H:"^'', *"** '°"g ^g° had madel^" dancing-shoes shapeless and sodden. But he did torC'V.''"*-:..''" ^k^ ^Soal to make for, an ideLl withso^c™"^'^- 0"«.°' twice he found himself with some surprise humming Gringoire's sonc that surely should never go but with a li|ht heart^' And in the fulness of time he approached the point of land from which he knew he could first sel Doom s dark promontory if it were day. There his steps slowed. Somehow it seemed as if aU hs future fortune depended upon whether or not a ligh? shone through the dark to greet him. Between him and the sea rol ing m upon a spit of the land there was -of all things ! -a herd of deer dimly to be witnessed runnmg back and forward on the iand as .n some confusion at his approach: at anothe? time the thing should have struck him with amaLe m^t but now he was too busy with his specuE whether Doom shcu d gleam on him or not to study this phenomenon of the frosty wilds. He made a r^S'Z "" V 'J™'"'^; 'f ^h*^ '^'^ was black, that must mean his future fortune ; if a light was there however tiny, ,t was the star of happy omen! it wS BACK IN DOOM. 265 — it was — it was several things ho dared not let him- self think upon for fear of immediate disappointment. For a minute he paused as if to gather his courage and then make a dash round the point. Ventre Dieu I Blackness ! His heart ached. And then, as most men do in similar circum- stances, he decided that the test was a preposterous one. Why, faith! should he relinquish hope of everything bec-vse ^yhat I the n^ht was there. Like a fool he had misjudged the distance in the darkness, and had been searching for it in the wrong place. It was so bright that it might be a star estrayed, a tiny star and venturesome, gone from the keeping of the maternal moon and wandered into the wc^ behind Doom to tangle in the hazel boughs. A dear star ! a very gem of stars ! a star more precious than all the others in that clustered sky, because it was the light of Olivia's window. A plague on all the others with their twinkling search among the clouds for the little one lost I he wished it had been a darker night that he might have only this one visible. By rights he should be weary and cold, and the day's events should trouble him; but, to tell the truth, he was in a happy exaltation all the rest of the way. Sometimes the star of hope evaded him as he followed the bending path, trees interposing : he only ran the faster to get it into his vision again, and it was his beacon up to the very walls of Doom. The castle took possession of the night. How odd that he should have fancied that brave tower arrogant : it was tranced in the very air of friendliness and love — the fairy residence, the moated keep of all the sweet old tales his nurse was used to tell him when he was a child in Cammercy. And there he had a grateful memory of the ring- leted middle-aged !ady who had alternately whipped and kissed him. and in his night's terrors soothed a66 DOOM CASTLE. n^T l-\ l^^'o ^y '^'"» ' " «'d he. "thou didrt not think thy Perraulfs ' Contes des F^es ' mX twenty years after, have so close an appli^tion fo a woman and a tower in misty Albion." He walked deliberately across to the rock, went t^n? on~ ^ poor arbour of dead ideals, ^m. as the Chateau d'Arques save for the %ht in its mistress's window. Poor old shell I and yet ^mt how he would not have had it otherwise: He advanced and rapped at the door. The sound rang in the interior, and presently Mungo's shuffling steps were heard and his voice behind the doof inquinng who was there. theuJu^f/ ^"^T'' ^?""* V'^*°^' humouring the little old man's fancy for affairs of arms. A friend! repeated Mungo with contempt. "A ^Zr°"/ a"""^ i*"^^ ''y* '"'"'*«" °' Wen's in the gutter, as Annapla says, and it wad need to be somethin rarer to get into Doom i' the mirk & nicht I opened the door to a frien' the ither nicht, tfnr^i ^"^^ me by the craig and fair choked me afore I could cry a barley." J\^.tfL °° "5' ^""^^^ "y ^"S^^h s° much as to tell me you do not recognise Count Victor's accent through a door." victors „11^°'" H *P'' ' "."'ed Mungo, hastily drawing his oJts. Hae ve chrnfi-ed veV min^ ,^L^A S I'l bolts, the inns , TT • , ---..6", iiasiiiy urawing nis Hae ye carnged ye'r mind akeady and left ,„or,;t l 5"!" *'V"e for your wife ye're no rS mant -"''" '' ^'"^ ^""^ — -' - a v;!^If *f °"'«hnient was even greater when Count t^'of a°mpircoat!'°" '=" ' ludicrous figure with his ♦►."'^■"uf .*m" 1?^ y^ hae come through the snaw this nicht like that!" he cried incredulous. holTne up his candle the better to examine the We ^ thrust"Ly^ ' laughed and for an answer%imply thrust forth a sopping foot to his examination. BACK IN DOOlf. SI67 "Man, ve must hae been hot on'tl" laid the T"^' K "''i'lK ''" '=°*'«1 head "ill th^lawd wi water. Water s an awfu' th ng to rot ye'r boots • I aye Mid if it rotted ane's boots that wav whi^aH L"omfr the^"h''' *"'r'='' ' OhXllATst becomin the throng hoose, wi' comin's and goin's and raps and roars and collieshangies o' a' kin'! If ha^rflitT-r^h '\'^"Py.e^^i'i it's Himser waS " V^,. i^i ^t ^^^ ° ''" °'«=hfs sleep." nInJ.?" •5°!^^' "^""P"- «''« daw in borrowed plumes, said Count Victor as the door was S felelhaf 'r-do'in ^°^ !^ ^/r f^" -ore'coS awe than I do m mine," and he ruefully surveved '^^^^t,:^'^' ^-'- Mungo recolnfrtS Mungo scanned the garment curiously. aniF '""" ^'"^ ""'" °" "* '''«««' ""«'" he M^r . ? rSrXrm^^P^/^ur^c^kr^^ thi^p'^"''^"'!"*.'?^ Mun^o's made him turn to see i^\Srt;,^^.' ''^'^"^ ''™ ^ ""le bewilde.^ "F/l"''" said the Baron, "and I fancy von "°He',J:nXV''\^^"r. as we' say, of tLSde'"" ra^?„ w '"'■^ *"■" i"'" *he ^ffc, taking Mungo's candle. Mungo was despatched for Annapla and speed, y the silent abigall of visions was engaged tr'a^dlSwlTt'^^h'^'V""""^' '^' •'"hiriffSe inauiries if t" '''°" ^""siderately made no venZre i'n H -^ ^ capnce of Count Victor's to Ihr t A dancing-shoes and a borrowed jacket ?C And th"r-TP* '"''''• '* -- hii'own f^T I" u '?^ *^°""' ^as so much interested in the new cheerfulness of his host (once so saturnine ZtTr^^^'^t}^''' ^^ '^^' ^'' °^n affa°r unm^n! tioned for a while as the woman worked. It was "•aocory ntoiunoN tbt omit (ANSI ond ISO TtST CHAIIT No. 1) la ^ |M j^|a. 1?? »|3. Ih 120 1.8 1.6 A ^PLED IIVMGE In leU Eaat Main StrMi 'techwl.r, N«> Yor* 14608 USA . 6) 482 - 0300 - Phon, (71«) 2M-59a9-FoK 268 DOOM CASTLE. u quite a light-hearted recluse this, compared with that he had left a week ago. "I am not surprised you found yon place dull," at the last hazarded the Baron. " Comment ? " "Down-by, I mean. I'm glad myself always to get home out of it at this season. When the fishers are there it's all my fancy, but when it does not smell of herring, the stench of lawyers' sheepskins gets on the top and is mighty offensive to any man that has had muckle to do with them." "Dull!" repeated Count Victor, now compre- hending ; " I have crowded more experience into the past four-and-twenty hours than I might meet in a month anywhere east of Calais. I have danced with a duchess, fought a stupid duel, with a town looking on for all the world as if it were a perform- ance in a circus with lathen weapons, moped in a dungeon, broken through the same, stolen a coat, tramped through miles of snow in a pair of pan- toufles, forgotten to pay the bill at the inn, and lost my baggage and my reputation— which latter I swear no one in these parts will be glad to pick up for his own use. Baron, I'll be shot if your country IS not bewitched. My faith ! what happenings since I came here expecting to be killed with ennui! 1 protest I shall buy a Scots estate and ask all my friends over here to see real life. Only they must have good constitutions; I shall insist on them haying good constitutions. And there's another thing— it necessitates that they must have so kind a friend as Monsieur le Baron and so hospitable a house as Doom to fall back on when their sport comes to a laughable termination, as mine has done to-night." " Ah ! then you have found your needle in the haystack after all ? " cried Doom, vastly interested. " Found the devil ! " cried Montaiglon, a shade of vexation in his countenance, for he had not once that day had a thought of all that had brought him BACK IN DOOM. 269 J,f*ne!H?«T^- ♦1"^^ ''^yf **'='' ">"«» be stuck full of peedles like the bran of a pin-cushion." And this one, who is not the particular needle named Dnmdarroch ? " "eeaie "I shall give you three guesses, M. le Baron." fin~°rri ^^^f^^^^- pulled out his nether lip with his hngers, looking hard at his guest. " It IS not the Chamberlain ? " "Peste!" thought the Count, "can the stern unbending parent have relented? You are quTte right he said; "no other. But it is not a matter ot the most serious importance. I lost my coat and the gentleman lost a little blood. I have the best assurances that he will be on foot again in a week or wo^by which trnie I hope-at all events I expect- enStrmt^^'^^"^^^ °' '''"' ■"^■'^'^ *° -"- *he " In the meantime here's Doom, yours— so lone as It is mine-while It's your pleasure to bide in it if g^J^"<=y yourself safe from molestation," said the "As to that I think I may be tranquil. I have te hushed u'^^^* assurances that the business will "So much the better, though in any case this tTe ma^teSD^rfirhV'"' ^"^^^^-"^"^^ •^^'"^ ^ Count Victor's turn it was to feel vexation now. He pulled his moustache and reddened. "As to ^f'f.r"T°^'" ^!^ ^^'"^ Pl^y y°" "°t t° despise me, for I have to confess that my warmth in the mission that brought me here has abated sadly You need not ask me why. I cannot tell you. As for me and my affair, I have not forgotten, nor am I hkely wholly to forget; but your liaystack is as dmcile as you promised it should be, and— there are divers other considerations. It necessitates that I go home. There shall be some raillery at my expense, doubtless-CiW / how Louis my cousin will laugh !— but no matter." VJO DOOM CASTLE. He spoke a little abstractedly, for he saw a delicate situation approachini;. He was sure to be asked— once Annapla s service was over— what led to the encounter, and to give the whole story fiankly Zlw °« '^ ' ""T^ unpleasantly in a vulgar squabble He saw for the first time that he had been whol y unwarranted in taking the defence of i. u i/,°°-* interests into his own hands. Could he bo dly intimate that in his opinion jealousy of mMntL l^f" the spring of the Chamberlain's midnight attacks on the castle of Doom ? That were preposterous! And yet that seemed the onlv Chamber^ "°"'' ^"^'''^ "'^ ^''^'^"^■"^ th^ When Annapla was gone then Doom got the fhif ?ll fv '';^*°"!f • He was encouraged to believe that all this busy day of adventure had been due to V"!§ t'^"^'''' r ^'' ^ 8^"^ of cards, and where he should have preferred a little more detail he had to content himself with a humorous narrative of the Se%?cher'"' °"'' '^'' ^"'^ '""^ ■"*^^-- "And now with your permission. Baron, I shall go to bed, at last said Count Victor. "I shall iTf \°T^^^ "''% ^ '"*'"• ^ ^'"' I know, the boldest of beggars for your grace and kindness. It seems I am fated in this country to make free, not only with my enemy's coat, but with my dear friend's domicile as if it were an inn. To-morrow, Baron, I shall make my dispositions. The coat can be re- turned to Its owner none the worse for my use of it but I shall not so easily be able to square accounts 27X CHAPTER XXXIV. IN DAYS OF STORM. for several considerations would hlveblTlf St'^ ""sT'^ ^"r ^'""^"^^ where OlivLlookeS sen-consciousness. Her slepvp ,>,^„i^ i """' V° l°ttle'le°« ^S- ^°' '^^'^ ^'"^' ^he had wha" was df?of1*,'r^°'"!.*'^'"^ ^^-^ in he tSr/s^hl her ^/nHf ^^'^^"'^'"?^ y«"^ °f that old Ulysses shLf^f .""''' ° ^•''°'" ^^^ beckoning lUts of happenings with magic parts. ^"^""^ 272 DOOM CASTLE. She seemed content, and yet not wholly happy: he could hear her sometimes sigh, as he thought from a mere wistfulness that had the illimitable spaces of the sea, the peopled isles and all their mystery, for background. To many of the birds that beat and cried about the place she gave names mvesting them with histories, recounting humor- ously their careers. And it was odd that however far she sent them in her fancy— to the distant Ind, to the vexed Pole itself— with joy in their travelling she assumed that their greatest joy was when they found themselves at Doom. The world was a place to tare forth in as far as you could, only to give you the better zest for Doom on your return. . ,T'4* V'^ased her father hugely, but it scarcely tallied with the views of one who had fond memories ot a land where sang the nightingale in its season, and roads were traversable in the wildest winter weather: still Count Victor was in no mood to question it. He was, save in rare moments of unpleasant re- flection, supremely happy, thrilling to that accidental contact, paling at the narrow margins whereby her "a"' escaped conferring on him a delirium. He could stand at a window all day pretending interest m the monotonous hills and empty sea, only that he might keep her there too and indulge himself upon her eyes. They— so eager, deep, or busied with the matters of her thoughts— were enough for a common happiness ; a debauch of it was in the contact of her arm. And yet something in this complacence of hers bewildered him. Here, if you please, was a woman who but the other night (as it were) was holding clandestine meetings with Simon MacTaggart and loving him to that extent that she defied her father. She could not but krow that this foreigner had done his worst to injure her in the inner place of her affec- tions, and yet she was to him more friendly than she had been before. Several times he was on the point IN DAYS OF STORM. 273 of speaking on the subject. Once inHpp,! l,» ~ j a playful allusion to tie flauTist of thrboierThl? was provocative of no more than a reddS cheek was a"tie',^l'"f^' ° ?"^"'=^- But tacitly the lover B^ron^ &: wo^^tf s^;1'uX a^f thT" ''' re?s-2cit?.^^-''^/^^^^^^^^^^ thilf !J"°"ll'°"'^''°''l ' H°w it found provisions in fc^Tu^"",?° ^'°"« '^""Id tell. The Iktle man hadhisSshing-linesout continually his gun wa^ to tne island inaccessible, and when gun and line failed him It was perhaps not wholly want"nV his Mr suasion that kain fowls came from the Lmlet'^x w nd\?Vnd'A''''^f 'P" °"^'^- I" P-"i"° the Quarters of tht"^^'^ '^^'^*° ^ ^^^"^ '" °ther quarters of the house in clamant conversation— wasTa'an :nor":1 *° ^,°""* Victor IhatD^c^™ ^one For T^'it^ '^f '^' t° him and Olivia aione. For the father relapsed anew into hi.? nU strange melancholies, dozing over hJs b^ks !„ dulging feint and riposte in the cha^l Sead" or gazing moodily along the imprisoned coasr That he was free to dress now as he chose in his beloved artan entertained him only briefly; obviously half the joy of his former recreations in the cS hacf thaT he"'c^,M ' ^^"^ T '^'^r'^ clandestine now th^ ul 1^ "^^^^ '"''''' ^^ "^hose indoors, he pined Sd the T T F '"**? '^^ deer-haunJed S Bnt //',^/"°^y highways m the breacan as of old! But that was not his only distress, Count Victor was he'^'^th/h'^u"*' ''°'' y°Y '■^"^"'^ melancholy?" ne had the boldness one day to ask Olivia. They were at the window together, amused at the figure Mungo presented, as, wfth an'odd travesty of the soldier's strategy, and all unseen as he fended S^rden'blt ^°^' '^■°""'? '^l "arrowconfines of the garden bent upon its slaughter. S 974 DOOM CASTLB. n.tl^"'^ ^S"u ° "l' ''"°* ^^ reason for that ? " she asked, with her humour promptly clouded, and a i7.1?l ^^, Pathetic glancrovefh^r shoulder at the *i^}% ''°n^ ''5^^,.P"' no wore embarrassing ques- ton to Count Victor, and it was no wonder he stammered in his reply. ♦t, " J''^ dearest," he repeated. " Ah ! well— well— the dearest. Mademoiselle Olivia; ma foil there are so many things. *• Yes, yes," she said impatiently, " but only one or two are at the heart's core." sli'e saw him smi°e «i, *{f\^"r^ reddened. "Oh, how stupid I am to ask that of a stranger! I did not mean a lady- if there is a lady." " "There w a lady," said Count Victor, twisting the fringe of her shawl that had come of tself intl his fingers as she turned. A silence followed: not even he, so versed in all the evidence of love or coquetry, could have seen loo^'for"" it" ^"^^ '^ ^""^ thought to "I am the one," said she at length, "who will wish you well m that; but after hlrAfter this^ ««?r^~^''** '® " *^^*^ <=°™es closest ? " What but my country!" cried he, with a surrinc sudden memory of France. " To be .ire! " she acquiesced, "your country I I am not wondering at that. And ours is the closest to the core of cores in us that have not perhaps so kind a country as jyours, but still must love it when It IS most cruel. We are like the folks I have read of— they were the Greeks who travelled so far among other clans upon the trade of war and bound to burst in tears when they came after strange hills and glens to the sight of the same sea that washed the country of their infancy. 'Tha- latta I -was it not that they cried ? When I read the story first m school in Edinburgh, I cried, my- IN DAYS OF STORM. 375 ™!1'ki-^*''''^""*1>"'* *h°"ght I heard the tide nimbhng upon this same ro^k. It is for that -it •s^because we must be leaving here my ffi .s Here indeed was news! "ifrs^'i^^' M^f'^^.PT' Y''^'"'^ •" astonishment. h.JV ; !^? '^*'?^'' *'as ^^^ robbed: his people tnl f% ^°?^J ^ '^ "°' ^ n«^ thing ik theH°Rh. lands of Scotland, Count Victor. You must not be thmkmg h.m a churl to be moping andTeavine vou to my poor entertainment. for*^it is ill to keep ^hc '^'^^m.^r'-.r'''" °"^, '^ '^^ying teats!" '" ''"- Where will you go ? " asked Count Victor di^ rigVi tto*s ^""^ ^''^ "^'-^ ^''-°"-t ^:s-o:if^^:;ffSi;;ri;if- stmnge if there is any spot of it whe e ^e canno flktin^Z-f ""^ °T *^"^''^ P^°P'^ ^ho have Seen Bittmg for a generation, taking the world for their pillow. What is it that will not come o an end ? My sorrow! the story on our door down there has been prepanng me for this since ever I was a bairn My great-preat-grandfather was the wise manTnd the far-seemg when he carved it there-' Ma" Be- hauld the End of All. Be Nocht Wiser Vhan fhe Hiest. Hope m God!'" She struggled courale ously w.th her tears that could not wholly beT strained, and there and then he could have gathered her into his arms. But he must keep himself in "Ah nv *^:'* the fringes of her sLT " of horn;." ' '^"^ ^^' " y°" ^'" <^'^ f°^ the sight yJ^Ai^^^*- s^l dashed her hand across her eyes and boldly faced him, smiling. ^ H,1T^*.."'°"'/ u^ ^ shameful thing in a Baron's daughter." said she. " No. indeed ! when we must h™ 7^ ^^xr^r^' ^^'^ ^ the woman wKo wiU go bravely! We live not in glens, in this house nor fn that, but m the hearts that love us, and where mj Illi III! 476 DOOM CASTLE. nn^*^^ ^\ ** *''« waves there, and the snow weU SVer""""*' ^" "«=- ^^ '" "t"- P^^'^^s swea^"l rm,IH''f- *""^' *'"* "°' ">« *^'"«' Here I ^^ wi^ f?" '•'"* content myself." mnml* J ^"* •^''!' smiling, and the roeue a moment dancmg m her eyes. "No no Count corri°/knH 't ^°r"^' "^ ''°™ '"'^ the stag in the come and the seal on the rock. We are a simnl,. O'^o^S'^ Y P°°'" P-P'«— orse fort'uL'-pS and proud. Your world is different from ours and there you w> have friends that think of you"' a fad of ^C; "'"^ ''"■ "",^«'?* i° passion but with love you too!" ^°" "' '^"^'"^^ '''°^« •'^'""d that ^Jhis time he watched her narrowly: she gave no saiZhr"?ol!?- Pf'P^P^.r the clachan there," Mia sue , some of them will not forget me I am Sa^ "Som h""- K^l^"- It is^loodVr u^ perhaps. Somethmg has been long troubling mv thlJl'""'*', than the degradation of L c?ans and^ these law pleas that PetuUo has now brought to the ?n h'. H- \."5 '' l'°'"^- ="'' he is whaufco™ ^;^yS?^e;!fe^i-f,iiti2?fc |Sfr;^^hj^-l^dS^S t^ons of his people in the same place. I never kn^ IN DAYS OF jITORM. 277 ^It'oVhSi^' ' -°""' -- "«»'" - nis nands. There was a lull m the wind and thp servitor was out of doors caulkinR the h tie bn-t Iht frrV/P°°' fortunes, whxh had be^''d^;Vup on the ha^fhSn "^'- '° '''^^ 'i^ prow obtrCdeS on tne half- hearted privacy of the lady's bower Deer were on the shore, one "sail was on the blue of the sea, a long way off, a triumphal., flash of sun Ih wL her'Td'TeTM ^''"" ^ P'f ^"' '"t"'"de of ^^ aff;^ yet Mungo was in what he called, him- with Vh,^ ^^- "^ ^""l ''°"e^"y becoming impS n^l "ndepart.ng foreigner, mainly becau" An- napla was day by day the more insistent that he h "d r„ vn,r'':S\^.:"^u'"*° ^°°'" ^'t^out bootfemirelv see I Mungo, said the Count ; " the daw if mv TsSated r*' "J"^ ''^ P'r^' pecked offTimbu? pluck mvseif uT^y,":^ ^°"°^\^ ''^^^'^^rs until I prucK myself. Is it that you can have them at the -yoX'^XUcT'i. *? ?"^, connoisseur inc^t your triend the Chamberlain ? It comes to occur to tne that the gentleman's wardrobe may ^ as scanty as my own, and the absence ., his coat may ^th^ h!^v"' T'', *''?" ""Y unfortunate pr ck^ng from Ah'etady/'^iJ;;. '"^''P^''^^'''^ absence^^omi Mungo had heard of the duel, of course- it wan was yourself plucked out liT/^ *''^- "f ?* T" ''"""d wicket? AsXnkness U in fPl"'^'"^'^ ^'°'" y°« for a while I g^e you crllit fnr?'°"' ^ '"''y^^A^t and treason now f? s Jmc l t '^^i''°" '° ">« ^°"se. so black as iThoueht -f ''^^^^^Q. though no asked vou to oS^^fhl- do^r ?"" ^'^'^Taggart who was Iclu r/ tauld Sa''" '^"*."P ' ^ae doot it a man wrthe bS fr/"A^P'!.'.,P'-°Phecy aboot •'-'/-ef 'rrwhfit ^^!/^'^ "-''-' Ve .>4*M"auS'"°'^'" sweal^ttent^lhi'n' ^f^/^'P' ^°' ^"e kent? I'll care no- to sa? cheep"' "' "^'y' '^"""eh I took guid Mungo/-'"'"^ ^°" ^'^^ "'^t^'^^" there, my good taZ^o'^Tn' ord1n°a?\'ind'\rr '.f' *!l«S'*''- - ^ him the very nfchtefterve left l''?.''"- ^'' j'^^* ^■' At onvratP .f =1^ J\f-i i^f ^'t for the mns doon bv waS- ' ''•' '^"'"^ •'«» then she kens noo" VU , MSo^?k?d^L^redrur^T'h'=r^""'^•'' . let go the chance of1i5i„J''/,^-^a";£S IN DAYS OF STORM. '79 heidr"shehM every wdrS o't*"'^, 'k'' ''l?!'l"« »•'» least, and that's the s^me thinV' But sh^""' " shoon, yen's the man for my money^ " ''''°°" °' "''' Victorfwith^a J^hLl"'^';T'" ^'^ f^-"' her father coifd"orfa,1 tehllT' ' • ^^,1 °^ *'"'='' Mungo had been can^hli t "PPnsed her even if toneue Th«Tl ^ ■ .°^ * miracle and held his like that. ""^'^-P««e & Ao» C„../-was not He thrust the coat into Muneo's h I, an,4 hurriedly up to his rnnm ♦! u i ^' a™ - nt she figured in a masa^?^"°'^p^'^^'"°"y-'" "hich Seeking the^first rmrn^-„' he yefofrh:'r'"'H" he had found the perfect lover tllere I "'^' aSo ;|l CHAPTER XXXV. A DA\fNATORY DOCUMENT. shming covers. Annapla^who was as um.HT\°^ ously in shawk; her S wf wT*\''' """""t^"' the U of dist „f cor^pttio■„.'^"''^°* ^^- "^'^ .gie this coat a dicht. oS^^^VhlShtt? ^"l^ A DAMNATORY DOCUMENT. ggl belangs to a gentleman that's no' like noo to get but Uus^sameandtheback-o'-myhaun'-to-yeooto^Doom She took the coat and bnishprl ;* ;„ „ i it. with odd, unintelligible chamfng '"'"^' " V^Ta ?i ypu^warlock canticles ! " cried Munco Ye gied the lassie to the man that cam' withouten boots-sorrow be on the bargain ! And if if s castTn" '^l°?hij'r' ^^r-J'" either cleaL' myseV' wife^.to be eternally in a dievililh dwaam!concoc Ir^.? 'm >Pu^"' ^'^^" ^^^ should be stirring at the o' 1; ^° J.''^* ^ "u^" '''^'"^ y^ muckSa wan? o the uptak' m what pertains to culinairv aTr^s • for what hae ye seen here since ye cam" awa^ frae the rest o' the drove in Arroquhar but lang k^ii and oaen brose, and mashlum bannocks? Oh! s1?s sirs !— I ve seen the day i " ' wifh"rn^'^^"^'^^^ ^'■°"'- ^^' *^'"'^' ^nd ogled him with an amusing admiration. hnl'L^t^. °°°.'''^ a' by wi't ; it's the end o' the auld ballant. went on the little man. " I've kent au Id sp°ard'?o'Te?.°" '""^i" ^'L'' fendour/and noo rm spared to see t rouped, the laird a dyvour and a hameless wanderer ower the face o' the earth H.-t gaun abroad, he tells me, and ettles to sit doo„ aSfo Dunkerque in France. It's but fair, maX tha ^. li^H '»w?'^'' squandered he should gai^g ti- the little that's to the fore. I mind o' his faitlTer L'n"rrf ^1 '^^ '^^* ''°^^d "P. a fair Jeshurun his een like to loup oot o' his heid wi' fat. and comb- back a pooked craw frae the dicing and the drTnk nae doot among the scatter-brained white cockades Whatna shilpit man's this that Leevie's gotten W her new jo ? As if I dinna see througTthem ' The vo7nfI' ''""'V^', ^r?' '^^ F^'^t"^ befauseTe played yon ploy w. his lads frae the Maltland barracks, ^d 282 DbOM CASTLE. 1^1 oi""-^^ ?^^^ }^^ '"«« in '°ve wi- her, I can to sav't^ He^^ '^°r'' '^°J^ i*'^ ^ ^•'^'"^'^^^ thing time^ V». ^°"^? S^yJ^" h^" '° a '"■'^hty short Ih^ U -f * *y^ */y'"S them that come unsent for «• pin' ,""'T'^1' t"* *ha sent for this billy oot o France? and wha has been sae coothered up as the s\'ift,"f L'J" '""' ^/'^ \ P^ B^^°» doesnae ken the shifts that you and me's been put to for to save his repitafon. Mony a lee I tauld doon there i 'the eL« rnH° ' V •'f *''""■ ?°* °' hotter and milk and e^gs, and a bit hen at times; mony a time I hae gi en my am denner to thae gangrel bodies frae Gfencroe sooner nor hae them think there was nae Im^f. ^ ^'7'f "^haur they never were sent awa' empty-haunded afore I aye keepit my he'rt up wi- the notion that him doon-by the coat belangs to wad hae made a match o't. and saved us a' frae be™ But there s an end o' that, sorry am I. And sor^ may you be ye auld runt, to hear't, for he's been the guid enough friend to me; and there wad never hae been the Red Sodger Tavern for us if it wasnae Srmy •■' '^ '" ^ 'n*" that has aye kep' up the Annapla seemed to find the dialect of Fife most &"^-.r'^ melodious. She listened to his mono- logue with approving smiles, and, sitting on a stool cowered withm the arch, warming her hands at the apology for a flame. 1 J' w^"" \y^ "^^T' '=°"''^ hae tauld her it was the lad himsel- was here that nicht wi' his desperate chiels frae the barracks ? It couldna' be you. for I didna- tell ye mysel' for fear ye wad bluitter itl and spoil his chances. She kent onyway, and it was for no ither reason she gie'd him the route, unkss -unless she had a notion o' the Frenchman frae the lui ^t- ° .'""'• there's no accoontin' for tastes! cM? fh ^""u- °" .a.tawtie-bogle, wi- a cock to the ae side that's km' o' knowin', and ony woman'll jump a his neck, though ye micht pap peas through the place whaur his wame should be. The Frenchy's A DAMNATORY DOCUMENT. 283 fhin^^. c? ^ onyway ; and noo, there's Sim ! Just thmko S.m gettin' the dirty gae- bye frae a riaikit lassie hauf h,s age; and no' his equal in the three parishes, vj,' a leg to tak' the ee o' a hale dancin'! school, and auld Knapdale's money comin' tiU h"m t'^^Tf,K^"^P''^" ^eane. and I'i hearin' he's in Frenchyl The race o' them never brocht ocht in my generation to puir Scotland worth a bodle unless It micht be a new fricassee to fyle a stamach her; ^'V,(^"^bate to ken what this Coont wants here. Drimdarroch.' says he. but that's fair ridee- culous. unless it was the real auld bauld Drimdar- roch, and that's nae ither than Doom. I winna Fr°a"ncY" ^^"'^ °' ^^"'^ ^'^ ^''^' '"^ '^'* ^^^ Annapla began to drowse at the fire. He saw her nead nod, and came round with the coat in his hand to conhrm his suspicion that she was about to fall asleep. Her eyes were shut. "Wauken up Luckie!" he cried, disgusted at this absence of appreciation. "What ails the body? Ye re into your damnable dwaam again. There s them that's gowks enough to think ye're seem Sichts, when it's neither mair nor less than he rt-sick laziness, and I was ance ane o' them my- sel . Ye hinnae as muckle o' the Sicht as wad let ye see when Leevie was mak^n' a gowk o' ye to ear ye hang oot signals for her auld jo. A bonny-like brewster-wife ye'll mak'. I warrant ! " He tapped her. not unkindly, on the head with the back of nis brush, and brought her to earth again. " Are ye listenin'. ye auld runt ? " said he. "I'm gom' doon to the toon i' the aifternoon wi' this braw coat and money for Monsher's inn accoont. and if ye're no' mair wide-awake by that time, there's de'il the cries'U gae in wi' auld MacNair." The woman laughed, not at all displeased with herse f nor with her rough admirer, and set to some trivial office. Mungo was finished with the coaf a84 DOOM CASTLE. m\ m III o!St7lnl,r"'V^l^t^' '"^'"'""K its plenitude ^he^Ll " ""** *'' °"*'''^' ^°^ ''' ticht74oi abfe""t& ,1''^^''* ¥"■ <^™in"tive admirer ador- search. Sometliing in one of the pockets rSd to unhesitatingly indulged himself. ^ *^ **"°^° brow^: IbotTetumt;'.' t^otl^rSS: Annapla regretted her inability to read asshecJnTH shou!Z ' '=°'"P'«'''°n, to see Annapla at h^s wrifi"" ^.S"i? th'°? the Sichfs nae use for English pTk^et rnc';\'^fre"oe^ •"fefS'"^ ^^ gmsel;, and naebody be n^n^e theSU^t ^o For half an hour he busied himself with aiding A DAMNATORY DOCUMENT. jg, must be owned, from a d^sL to nfn ' J??^'*".'' '"^^' ** a womanly wish toVh,™ ! "'^^ '"'"• ""an from beej.oft(e^;?atS^L^^^^^^^^ he wHSi S tt Sr^ i" aL-bstraction. for farewells: he careWuf^ "'tter prospect of imminent closed ey;s?an7wLtel, ?W '^ t^' '^^' ^''^ half! he realised ihat it'Ky nS %"et^ " "^'T begmnnig aeain cnu^htthT- ^^heganatthe sat^ bolt upright in fh' nh •"'^^^'"« "^ ^ sentence, found him loflW and fin^^h^'^'^'u^ ^""^P'« had astonishment ®' '^""''^'^ ^"^ eagerness and hiXlTittVbtn^SSfrom'th''^^''^'^.'^ *° ''^" happened to picHt" upl r^^a^o J^?'-''' "'^°" ''^'^ He hurried to Olivia ' sec'ret^ ' "'" '^ ^^''^' " ^ ''^-^ '-^'-^ upon the oddest g;;i^n-rr--;^--s;iL-? is th^fyour'secS'p'Thf"^ '""'^'^ i^"-^d, "and tetr--'-°^---es°srm^li docum:nt"'"she flustd"she^' '^^ t^e damnaton, wept with shamef but " Oh I I'T^^'^'J^^ wellnigl!; " is he not the noble man ?" '*'' "'^"^ ='' '^^^ e"^. 'ire>ou out of your wits, Olivia?" 286 DOOM CASTLE. t 1 She stammered an explanation. " I do not mean —I do not mean — this— wretch that is exposed there, but Count Victor. He has known it all along." ... " H'm," said Doom. " I fancy he has. That was, like enough, the cause of the duel. But I do not thmk It was noble at all that he should keep silent upon a matter so closely affecting the happiness of your whole life." Olivia saw this too, when helped to it, and bit her lip. It was, assuredly, not right that Count Victor, in th? possession of such secrets as this letter re- vealed, should allow her to throw herself away on the villain there portrayed. "He may have some reason we cannot guess," she said, and thought of one that made her heart beat wildly, "No reason . "t a Frenchman's would let me lose my daughter to a scamp out of a pure punctilio. I can scarcely believe that he knew all that is in this letter. And you, my dear, you never guessed any more than I that these attacks under cover of night were the work of Simon MacTaggart." « i"J '"'J^' *^'' y°" *^^ *''"*^' father," said Olivia. i have known it since the second, and that it was that turned me. I learned from the button that Count Victor phked up on the stair, for I recognised It as his. I knew— I knew— and yet I wished to keep a doubt of it ; I felt it so, and still would not confess It to myself that the man I loved— the man I thought I loved — was no better than a robber." "A robber indeed! I thought the man bad; I never liked his eye, and less his tongue, that was ever too plausible. Praise God, my dear! that he's found out." zSj CHAPTER XXXVI. LOVE. th^'remSr'^orthe" 7^^°'"^'' -dusbn for him cold thn,Lh V ^"y- ■¥ naturally believed nim coia, though a woman w th a fuller exneripn^ sentafon involved tL much boTdne^ss o^*'he Z't to be undertaken n an imnuke Tf,» „ ^- 288 DOOM CASTLE. Jer^U^f^ coortin'." he said, " it's the drollest I .We a^d f!" °"' J^^ "'='" ""-^ht be a carten \h^^ u 7^^""^ "° •'«"<=•■ nor a shilfy in the pook <;;m if T ' '""^ "'*^ "a"e o* yon blateness aboot £ ?s:d'to5?'''' ^"'^ '*'^ °°' -^^* the pair's hU^nL*''^^ "^^""^ speculations beyond the sibvl of vvnere were they bound for but France ? Dnnm brotheT&r ''"".^^^''"^ becauseTe hid a'^hal" SnJi '"/ retirement compelled partly for " p-~_ T mT — r'" ' "-■■"» »;ouia appreciate. France !" he cned. delighted. "This is ravish- indeed, Mademoiselle Olivia I " RnR oncit a.-aJ j.-I.;. t ... ing news ■'Yes? lifHo^ "' J ® J answered dubiously, reddenine a S ftt."""*"'""^ *^y '^^ ^''°"'<1 partiSly rr^l^A- •f'" (.'' '^'■" .''^ '"^•ste'l heartily. " I had the xueciare i saw my dear Baron and his dau^htpr moping mountain creatures among narrow streets' n dreary tenements, with glimpse ff nS sea no; France. '°M?Hr''' ^^•]! ^^ Pleasures lost Bu St For r''""" '•f ^i^«° •"« an exquisite tw f ■ / ' "sure you! France is not so vast that friends may not meet there often-if one Jere LOVE. 389 tains-there I am distreaLn fi, ^"^^ '''*""°""- of this end t^the n?y K ''"'« thought when I heard make'th\"'nrw t^i'ntTo: ".^^H?^^*^^^^ -e to the shore of France? " "'='' «°°^ •=°'"P^»y *» buth/lSldlyiLVetC:;''^ ^^''-''^'-™^^^ forgiJeTysTff for'fiso l"'"" ^' i"'=^- ^ — »* there." -^ ^'"^^ ^° '°°g away from my friends -pS'£rS„WerstndloP^'r°^ ''''' --« '- in the cleft of her roiJlTK'* ^ 'P'^^. of jasmine the^^evadedhTm;Xe^^:d^;^S:--f.,a^^^^ wearfherel: t'hls 'sor.il '? "'^^''i' '^t* ^ou should to th^ p^op e you S^'Th.?*^ ^ '^ '° ^"* •'^'^'^ have m^sed you."' ^^'^ '^'" ''^ ""^"V that Helaughedfatthat. has doJbTkss ofl^'n^'sonZ'" ''" ^^l'^-. "Clancarty «90 DOOM CABTLE. ^^l'^f^^T''J""^ ■* '■<"■ "'"tives, not a single " Of rn^°""'"r ""^ '■*"'='^t° S^^'P her allusion. inHi!i . ""^°' T"*""^'" said he hastily; "IhoDc If tlhf ' nrn'"' *r ''**nn''-" "^ ^^J' «" exaltation .{^^5 ho.fV F?spect. To see her there! To have a host 8 right to bid welcome to his land this liir wjld-flower that had blossomed on rL:ks of the sS unspoiled and unsophisticated I ' Thejasmine stirred more obviously: it was fastpnprf had kno°wr ^r='' *''n''^'^ ^^" ^er mmher'tani tarilv'^i^^r 'w""" ''^?^"'^ the thing that momen- f^r Ai . * ^'°"' °^ *»*« to both of them. But for Mungo's voice at intervals in the kSn the Sr rhere'Selh' ^""^ ''?^n'' ^''^ '^- wintS nigni tnere came the opening bars of a meloHv played very softlv by Sim MacTaggart's fl^gS At first .t seeme/ incredible-a caprfce of Sna: l^s"~Cotnt''^. "*'""' '"' 'T' -o^enls'Tpfech h1s"unI^Z7f ""^ "T^* ".ati'-ally the least disturbed : Lc^ha? the n^'.ff "'^l?^ir ^"* ""^^"t the pleasant •^ 1,. V *^ Duchess had been nowise over-santuine in her estimate of the Chamberlain's condition Here GallicTa" ''°'''"' ^^r"'^' °« his mTnd: thl recuperltLT rhJ^^^^u\°^y'T'^y- °^ miraculous tSt,?. ♦k' . "^^ ,''"' his first and momentary tnought; the next was less pleasinp for if ^^^^La not wholly unlikely now that afer alf Ohvia andThls man were still on an unchanged footing, and Muneo'l sowing of false hopes was like to bring a bitter lean- ing of regretful disillusions. As for Ollvk^ she wL first a flame and then an icicle. Her face scorched foU? vLfof f 'T'^ *° l^",^ ^ suddenlfwalarm: kZ hU doom nr ""'"''^^l ^°°^ ^* her, fearing to learn his doom or spy on her embarrassment untU LOVE. 391 d ated. Her fan. hnA V ,r "^'^ nostrils were .Igh'ofSrf!"" '■' ""■ "" °' "■■■ ■'» «" "•!> • •■ Alu, poor Orph.,,, I he ,«„„,. ,„ T|,„ce. where aga DOOM CASTLB. S^*iZ ^r!^"*" ?!? *""° ""y '««> the ladies in tear- ing nim to pieces I" «U?k" '.u ^°"°y "««' bewitched me. I fancy." •aid she with a shy air of confession ; " now I cannit voi OrnK" "u'^ '.'?'",'' .'•«""'' »♦ -"V blindness" for ^J adftaWe*!"' ""''= '"^°"'' "" '""^"= »"*' « -^ «Jn'!i»i*''** *r? f^l'^ of nature, a thing without his ^s ineSl*^' ^^'"'-"'',1 •''^ «*?"«» "^^ y°". which was inevitable, Mademoiselle Olivia." ♦».« -A *' *,''? bollowest of all," she said, tumine the evidence of it in her pocket again. " He will m readUy get oyer that as o^ his i^o^ from you!^ " «v Ar!l^^ ^^*'• T-h? '"°*t sensitive man, they say, does not place all his existence on love; 'tCs woman alone who can live and die in the hewt." «!rf nif^ daresay you speak from experience," Mid Olivia, smiling but impatient that he should ^nd^a single plea in favour of a wretch he must know nlJin*^"""'?^"" "* ',''* exception," he hurried to ex- Se f^r 7""'Tlf '"^"^ >"* """• ="«» then would aie tor It. The jasmine tren bled in its chaste white nunnery, and her lips were tempting yap^rt! e"k '"''^'y* '^"^*''"S her provoking :' She is the lucky lady I " said Olivia in a low "What"? *•'""/ P?"'^ ^^' *"«««=h -dToTtkSitarticX? * An?"'='' i" ^''l «-"^' Count Victor. P^""="'*'^- And you knew ?" aslced m;bi£TchooHS^'." "'" °'""' "^""^ ''"'^ -- ^^^She p_assed him the letter. He took it and read "I ha- e learned now," said thp writpr " ,i, for your black looks at Monsh^^ wi^etrchrn'J 294 DOOM CASTLE. further than a^oran's ?ace 7th.° "°* ''" """"^^ h s way. And q;m^„ ji ^ ^""^ ^^'"^ "^^nies n IndwS here wfthourhk'^t "°V''' '""^ ^'"°"g °"^ covered " "=p^"nout his true business being dis- theTame ?hS""l°f ' J"f ^^^ !. ^°^^ ^ ^i» ha'e when I w;oteTscore, ° A- """j '^ '^''^"''""'^^ °" '* the Rue Daunh-nl nf p ■ *""''5 ° >'°"'' direction in a picture oTSrpll'^^Kha^^^^^ ^° '"^" "P°" because my Sim /in=f f=f^ ■.^^ ^ '''"^ "^^s"" seen, were just ^a Wee^^S^^ n'Ti^h'X'tftlf "% d'^"" Traitor, my bonny Spy It miX I, I ^ '^^^^ indeed, and more if vn„ hl^^.' ''^''^ ^^"^ yours and Doom fo^C" ^I Tat is frke'^^'J" "^'""'P' man's very speedily. What if T mnt ^ "JY ^""'l- adKhTi^°-^-^^^^^^^^^^ this^A c'^dnfus'iof^f f^"?^^'^ "'•^" •'^ had read scarce willing to regret and ni" l^'^'^f ""^ him capable If throS her to?hr^ ^'' ,'''°"S''* T-^r^.'ocument shookT^is hand'*"' '^°'°^^"' ^°^"^' blacker man thafis°thet thin ?K- " '^ '* ^ "'"'^h I can tell you I wiH count ^^-,d' °"' ^^^ ^^°^!^^^ ? daughter Lt sh^ ^ 'l^rdTwTcr th7rSS LOVE. 295 "And yet I can find it in me to forgive him the balance of his punishment," cried the Count ^^ And what for might that be ? " said she. Because, Mademoiselle Olivia, he led me to Scotland and to your father's door." She saw a rapture in his manner, a kindliiie in his eye, and drew herself together with some pride You were welcome to my father's door— I am sure of that of it, whatever," said she; " but it was a poor reward for so long a travelling. And now, mv grief! We must steep the withies and go ourl selves to the start of fortune like any beggars " fr.Jt?l "°1'' yV"^ "l^' ^"^ ^^"S*** »'«'■ hand "that trembled in his like a bird. " Olivia !— oh, God, the name is like a song-^/e faime ! je t'aime ! Olivia I love you ! ' She plucked her hand away and threw her shoulders back, haughty, yet trembling and on the brink of tears. I " ^\ ^ Jl°* '''"d— it is not kind," she stammered, almost sobbing. " The lady that is in France " Petite wvbecile ! " he cried, " there is no ladv in France worthy to hold thy scarf. 'Twas thyself mtgttonne I spoke of all the time; only, the more I love the less I can express." He drew her to him, crushing the jasmine till it breathed in a fragrant dissolution, bruising her breast witn the topaz. I iirl w f 396 I I CHAPTER XXXVII. THE FUTILE FLAGEOLET. sonal .njurj. that the girl should "ubSis 6^6^^ A^ %l !^TJ"*° ^^^ '"^"'* of indifference. . As the melodies succeeded each other withnnt =, sign of response from overhead, he groaned and swore with vexation and anger. eroanea, and "Ye can be bummin' awa" wi' your chantpr " t,» r^^ ''l^^ '^°°'^ "^t^^ing i" theTitchen "Her rA V TV'"-™'" ".?..-. sciis' and she clutched the arm of her adorer ' ^nt^ttr;^gl''^l/^:^^:^^-off^i^^ Hielan- „ot,o„ that it's a ghaist tLt'splayin' there ? for ■ •rdone*°'?h'e're",''' .?• ''™-''. -I ?he „Ted T^ggarttrihe^e'rtl gatdt" Sin-Tif" ^^'^■ a wumman that's owre muckle Ta'en uS i'T'l°" w.' the whillywhaes o' a French^Teck^Lwe^tC THE FUTILE FLAGEOLET. 297 haesnae the smeddum to gi'e her a toozlin' at the oor she needs it maist. Ay. ay! caw awa' wi' yer chanter Sim, ve'll play hooly and fairly ere ever ve play t I the lug o' Leevie Lamond, and her held against your shouther again." When it seemed at last the player's patience was at an end, the little servitor took a lamp and went to the door. He drew the bolts softly, prepared to make a cautious emergence, with a recollection of his wr -m reception before. He was to have a great surprise, for there stood Simon MacTaggart leanine against the jamb— a figure of dejection ! "Dod! "cried Mungo, "ye fair started me there, wi your chafts like clay and yer een luntin". If I hadnae been tauld when I was doon wi' yer coat the day that ye was oot and aboot again, I wad hae taen 't for your wraith." The Chamberlain said nothing. There was some- tning inexpressibly solemn in his aspect as he leaned wearily against the side of the door, his face like clay, as Mungo had truly said, and his eyes flaming in the light of the lantern. The flageolet was in his h , - d • he was shivering with cold. And he was silent. Ihe silence of him was the most staggering fact for tfte little domestic, who would have been relieved to hear an oath, or even have given his coat-collar to a vigorous shaking, rather than be compelled to look on misety inarticulate. Simon looked past him into the shadows of the hall as a beggar looks into a garden where is no admission for him or his kind A fancy seized Mungo that perhaps this dumb man had been drinking. " He's gey like a man on the ran-dan, he said to himself, peering curiously, " but the"lals''" ^ "^"^ '"'' ^^^ ^'^^ *^°"^'' "^"^'y '°'' " Is she in ? " said the Chamberlain suddenly with- out changing his attitude, and with scanty interest in his eyes. .. w?'' ^^t' ^^f ^ '"• ^"'■^ enough." said Mungo. Whaur else wad she be but in ? " \iSM 298 DOOM CASTLE. have heard me?" continued the "And she'll Chamberlain. "I'll warrant ye!" said Mungo. "What's wrong?" .. Mungo pursed out his lips and shook his lantern. Ye can be askin' that," says he. " Gude kens ! " i he Chamberlam still leaned wearily against the door-jamb, mentally whelmed by dejection, bodily weak as water. His ride on a horse along the coast had manifestly not been the most fitting exercise for a man new out of bed and the hands of his physician. What about the foreigner?" said he at length, and glowered the more into the interior as if he might espy him. Mungo was cautious. This was the sort of person Who on an impulse would rush the guard and create a commotion in the garrison : he temporised. . 1 he foreigner ? " said he, as if there were so many m his experience that some discrimination was called lor._ Oh ay, the Coont. A gey queer birkie yon ! He s no awa' yet. He's sittm' on his dowp yet, waitin a dispensation o' Providence that'll gie him a heeze somewhere else." ,',' Js— he— is he with her? " said Simon. Oh thereaboots, thereaboots," admitted Munco, cautiously. " There's nae doot they're gey and chief got sin he cam' back, and she foun' oot wha created the collieshangie." " Ay, man, and she kens that ? " said the Chamber- lain with unnatural calm. '; 'Deed does she, brawly ! though hoo she kens is mair nor I can guess. Monsher thrieps it wasnae him and 1 11 gie my oath it wasnae me." T .u- , ?!?^° "^ ""'V'^ '=^"'e> Mungo. There's whiles . .-lA ^^^^>' ^^^ °^^ l^"' ^g^'nst witchcraft was not still to the fore. And so she kent, did she ? and nobody tell't her. Well, well f - ' with great bitterness 5 laughed softly, Mungo turned the lantern about in his hand and had nothing to say. THE FUTILE FLAGEOLET. 299 fhlTi"**'^ this I'm hearing about the Baron- Chamb^fain."' '""^"'^ ''"■ '^^-"«?" ^'^ ^he .. " i*'/ ^^^ S*"^^'^ *™*'' 'hat," said the little man • "and for the oots and ins o't ye'U hae to ask Pe^uHo ftrh"u^'/°' ^t' ^V;? ^°°* °^- Doom's donrw" Its his decreet and I'm no' a day ower soon wi' the promise o' the Red Sodger-for the which C muckle obleeged to you, Factor. Doom's done they re gaun awa' in a week or twa, and me wd Annapla's to be left ahint to steek the yettT." the Ch.h^ ^■' '"^'- ^""^° ' ^° "'^y t^" me," said Kion " Tn'"' ""'l''"' "P r^ ''°^" ^' this corro Doration. In a week or twa ! ay ! ay ! It'll be the bower nae langer then," he went on.^unconsci^uslv m.m.ckmg the Lowland Scots of the domesdc " Do ye ken the auld sang ?— 'O Bessie Bell and Mary Gray, They were twa bonnie lassies I They bigged a bower on yon bum-brae. And theekit it o'er wi' rashes.' " hpWl!"*^^ *^1-^" "^'^^ indiscreet indifference to being heard within ; and " Wheesh ! man, wheesh " ° expostulated Mungo. " If himsel' was to ken o' me colloguing WI' ye at the door at this 'oor o' the nicht there wad be Auld Hornie to pay." ' tbl'^h ' *K^?'? '■''^ *° }^ ^^^^ the ways it is," said doo rn nT K r"' V', "^""^ his shoufder from the an wi?h fh ^^*'"^ *"' H"^''^ 'he flageolet, and in all with the appearance of a casual gossip reluctant like toTfh.,t ""h'^''' ''"^P "y '^°'h! there" fhl 1 hethat ! ■ he repeated. " Do ye think, by o5 mfnd ?°" "'' ''""^°' ^'"^ '" ^ P'^^^^"' ~"diti°" "thZ^^^ """^ ^^•'?"'? Key gash, sir," said Mungo; there s no denym' that of it." nnl'^K ^''f^^l,'''^'" K^^'^ "" ''ttle crackling laugh and held the flageolet like a dirk, flat along the 300 DOOM CASTLE. inside of his arm and his fingers straining round the thick of It. n 'j?^i ' l ^^''* ^^- '"'"hat's the way I feel. By Ood I Ye fetched down my coat to-day. It was the first hint I had that this damned dancing-master was Here, for he broke jyle: who would have guessed he was fool enough to come here, where— if we were in the key for it— we could easily set hands on him ? He must have stolen the coat out of my own roo.n ; but that s no' all of it, for there was a letter in the pocket of It when it disappeared. What was in the letter I am fair beat to remember, but I know that It was of some importance to myself, and of a solemn ^^"^cy, and it has not come back with the coat." Mungo was taken aback at this, but to acknow- ledge he had seen the letter at all would be to blunder. " A^letter ! " said he ; " there was nae letter that I saw : and he concluded that he must have let it slip out of the pocket. The Chamberlain for the first time relinquished the support of the doorway, and stood upon his lees, but his face was more dejected than ever ■ " That settles it," said he, filling his chest with air. I had a small hope that maybe it might have come into your hands without the others seeing it but that was expecting too much of a Frenchman. And the letter's away with it ! My God I Away with it I ^ ' • • • B'gged a bower on yon bum-brae, And theekit it o'er wi' rashes ! ' " .u"^°'"j?M^.^^^''p'" ^*''* Mungo. terrifipd again at this mad biting from a man who had anythine but song upon his countenance. iu'X?"''^!®'?''? y^ '^'^"*« see the letter?" asked the Chamberlain again. '^ Amn't I tellin' ye ? " said Mungo. "It's a pity," said the Chamberlain, staring at the lantern, with eyes that saw nothing. " In that case THE FUTILE FLAGEOLET. 30I llnM{orvZ°^u^v^''^-^'' '^''y^hip inby should le«er thou^lf^fh '"! '* ^!? =» very informing bk leuer, tftougJi the exact word ne of it hnc =li^.,„j mv recollection. It would be exacting over S kLn"r"»,"^i"'^ *° ;'''"'' that the forS would keq, h,s hands out of the pouch of a coat he^°ole " Yes, sir ? " "Somebody's got to sweat for this ! " =,„! \ "^^^ ^° 'P"'=h ^enom in the utterance before"t 'codHn^" *'^ ^^^ *''='* Mungo^sS! wis lone. "^ ''°"""^°* *''^ Chamberlain His horse was tethered to a thorn • he climh^^ Xf"'V"*°*?« ?5e cried, "damned black was the day I first clapt eyes on you I Tell me this did your letter, that was through all my teams when I was in the fever of mv wLnd, alTiyetTh" I cannot recall a sentence o^ say yoi knew I was Dnmdarroch ? It is in my mind \hlt it mj." "V^^h-i- ''f^- y?" ^7 '"^' Sim!" said she. I m thinking it is just the other way about, mv honest man Dnmdarroch! And spy, it seem/ and something worse! And are you fSred thaT I have clyped it all to Madame Milk-lnd-Water ? No tlJiTanot wS."°"^ ''''' -• ' "^^^ ^°- ^"-^ «>« th'r'J'r^^r-^^ji' '"'■'^ ^^- " ^ *'''°k I mind you threatened It before myself, and Doom is to be rouped at last to pleasure a wanton woman." A wanton woman I Oh, my excellent tutor! My best respects to my old dominie! I'll see day about with you for this ! " ' kIIP,^^ V °"' ' "f '"^ ^^r 'l^y g""*! sweet-tempered Kate! You need net fash-your hand is pllyed; your letter trumped the trick, and I am done If that does not please your ladyship, you are ill to THE FUTILE FLAGEOLET. 303 know where to lav mv firfJ y^^' *° '""S as I She plucked her hLh^^?" °" '^"^ Frenchman." without anolht word rif^^^' ^"'^ /^" ^oni him of a husband's d<^r' ^^''^ ^°' °"'=*' °f ""e sanctuary 304 CHAPTER XXXVIII. A WARNING. Petullo was from home. It was in such circum- Now',\f" ^°?^''^i ^'''^'S^ ^'-'^ inters. Now she was to find his absence more than a pleasant resp.te-,t gave her an opportunity of w^rn^ h/=?°°.!?-K ?•'/ ^^'^ ^^'""^ '"''de up her mind how ht^^^ ^u '"fo™?d of the jeopardies that menaced his auest, whose ska.thless departure with Olivia was when the Baron appeared himself. It was not on the happiest of errands he came down on the fi°st day of/avounng weather; it was to surrender the WithZT °^^V'ght to the home of his ancesto^! With the flourish of a quill he brought three centuries of notable history to a close. »-c"iuries h»'f^p''!^*/^*f ", '° humility, Mr Campbell," said »nH f^f*""° ' "Ju'^- u " ^^ ''""'I'^d *ith the sword! and fell upon the sheep-skin. Who would think Donm",nH°-i'^ ^ ^"'^■'^ the.grey goose would have iJoom and its generations in its wing? " He had about his shoulders a plaid that had once t^nn" f, h'V^rtan, but had undergone the degrada- tion of the dye-pot for a foolish and tyrannical law : he threw it round him with a dignity that was half defiance, and cast his last glance round the scene of his sorriest experiences - the dusty writing-desks, ftuT^T^ °^ °''' •'""''' **•« taped and do|-eared fouled, and forgotten records of pithy causes; and A WARNING. 305 hnH /h * "^?T^ f deed-chests, one of which had the name "Dnmdarroch" blazoned on it for remembrance if he had been in danger of for' I'And is it yourself, Baron?" cried a woman's ." It is what is left of me, ma'am," said he. " And It IS more than is like to be seen of mc in th^se parts for many a day to come," but with no coSnUn his expression. v^"it«iaiui m ^^ v^'^ ^^^' "} ''"°^! ^ ''"owl and I am so sorry. You cannot leave to^iay of any day without a glass of wme for deoch-an-doruis." wiinout h J» i **'?l'i. ^°"' raa'am," said Doom, "but my ^f^^^y *^« 5"ay. and Mungo waits for me."^ ■ • 7 j' ^?.J^f^' y"" "»"** come in. Baron." she Ztanc; V"'""}' ^°'"^*'''"« °f 'he greatest im! portance I have to say to you, and ft need not detam you ten minutes." He followed her upstairs to her parlour. It was thi ,I»[^ '"•*''£ '^"J ^"'^ '•'^^^ ^« something of behind hfrM." *"" *'^««'"«f e°""- As he wafked beJimd her, the remembrance would intrude of that betraymg letter, and he had the notion that j^rhaps she somehow knew he shared her shamefufsecret! fZ^^W ^^\^^'' ^^^^^^ ^hen she stopped and faced him in the privacy of her room with hlr eves swollen and a trembling under-lip. ^ ^JAnd It has come to this of it. Baron?" said ;; It has come to this," said Doom simply. 1 cannot tell you how vexed I am I know my husband " wirhM!^^M V""^ """"T'' "V-^'^™'" ^*'d he, bowing with an old-fa> "loned inclination. " You know my husband, a hard man. Baron. u But you 306 DOOM CASTLE. though I PC ihaps Should be the 'a«t to say it and I like Jiilt ,K' iJ"" °' l»13»»i"e. for . pirZ ••Nrno°'KTPh'"'"?' '"^'^'">" said Doom. and he took the libert'tet^JJ^^^^^^^^^ ^'^P^^^^'""' mentioned, is waiting me at the quayf "^'d 'tt^e A V/AKUSa. 307 A look of relief came to Mra PetuUo's face. 'Next week !" she cried. "Oh then that coes h«l°h'*l ""y """ ^ind- the"S\;t^''r^;He^-'':;eis ^'^w£ftSf^'-r^-"^^^^^^ she aVked. '^' ^''°"' ^""^ Chamberlain ? " or the need of ^^^k t^'^o/dX^aValeT^ll; DETRAYED BY A BALLAD. 3" a blessed disposition and left him a fortune ? That would save me the performance of a very unpleasant " It has gone the length of scurrilous songs about our worthy gentleman. The town has been ringing with scandals about him for a week, and I never heard a word about it till half an hour ago." " And so you feel defrauded, my dear, which is natural enough, bemg a woman as well as a duch-ss. 1 am glad to know that so squalid a story should be so long of reaching your ears : had it been anything to anybody's credit you would have been the first to learn of it. To tell the truth, I've heard the song myself, and if I have seemed unnaturally engaged for a day or two it is because I have been in a quandary as to what I should do. Now that you know the story, what do you advise, my dear ? " "A mere woman must leave that to the Lord Justice-General," she replied. " And now that your Chamberlain turns out a greater scamp than I thought him, I'm foolish enough to be sorrv for him." ' "And so am I," said the Duke, and looked about the shelves of books lining the room. " Here's a multitude of counsellors ; a great deal of the world's wisdom so far as it has been reduced to print, and 111 swear I could go through it from end to end without learning how I should judge a problem like Sim MacTaggart." She would have left him then, but he stopped her with a smiling interrogation. " Well ? " he said. She waited. " What about the customary privilege ? " he went on. " What is that ? " " Why, you have not said ' I told you so.' " She smiled at that. " How stupid of me ! " said she. " Oh ! but you forgave my Frenchman, and for that I owe you some consideration." " Did I, faith ? " said he. " 'Twas mighty near 312 DOOM CASTLE. glad, in MacTagpart's ntlr^f l-i' H:"^ ""'^ ^°° refe„?"othfsZ;.^ W^'aJ^t S ^^^^^^^^ not decided until it was \^J^in tl '^ ""^ ^^ ^ad he sent for his Ch2bei ^' ''""'"«' ^"^ 'J'^" 313 CHAPTER XL. THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. The Chamberlain subsided in a chair: crossed h.s legs; made a mouth as if to whist e There was a vexatious silence in the room till the Duke got^up and stood against the chimney-p-ece and th'^^/^'" ^^'^^^^■' "} "^""'^ ^ taking a liberty with Xt-Tlitr^:^''^: ^"^'"'^ P^"^ Good'^om ^^^h I u, 1^ "°*' ^° '=''■ ^^ ™"su; goes, as timber as the table there and in anything buti k4 for musk even .f I had the faculty. Talking about music vou ne'cTef^thh'" "°* '''''"' '^' '"^^"'"^ bXn 'c^n nected with your name and your exploits It W been the rneans of informing her Grace u^^ mattS likeloTave'the'''' '"'"r "°'hing aboutrbecause I iiKe to have the women I regard believe the worlH much better than it is. And it follows Ihat yo^nd I must bring our long connection to an end. ^ When will It be most convenient for my Chamberlain to send me his resignation after 'twelVe yea^s of nains taking and intelligent service to the^Es tate /fs"^ sfmon ^^'"f ° ■ l^^ ^"^'°'"=''-y silver salver ? '• Simon cursed withm but outwardly never quailed I know nothing about a ballant," said he coolly 314 DOOM CASTLE. but as for the rest of it, I thank God I can be taking a hint as ready as the quickest. Your Grace no doubt has reasons. And I'll make bold to say the inscription it is your humour to suggest would not be anyway extravagant, for the twelve years have been painstaking enough, whatever about the:- intelligence, ot which I must not be the judge myself." So far as that goes, sir," said the Duke, "you have been a pattern. And it is your gifts that mike your sins the more heinous : a man of a more sluggish intelligence might have had the ghost of an eiluse lor laihng to appreciate the utmost loathsomeness of nis sins. "Oh! by the Lord Harry, if it is to be a sermon ! cried Simon, jumping to his feet. Keep your chair, sir! keep your chair like a man! said the Duke. "I am thinking you know me well enough to believe there is none of the common moralist about me. I leave the preaching to those with a better conceit of themselves than I could afford to have of my indifferent self. No preaching, cousin, no preaching, but just a word among friends, even if it were only to explain th» reason for our separation." t J'Ve Chamberlain resumed his chair defiantly and toided his arms. ' " ^' u. ^?, ""^^f^ ■'' ' =^e the need for all this preamble, said he ; " but your Grace can fire away It need never be said that Simon MacTaggart ha^' ened " *° ''''™""* ''°'' ^'""^^^ "'''^" ^^^ "^^'^ •^^'*^,i." certain limitations, I daresay that is true " saici the Duke. "a ^*u^®i',l""* ?■ *?'? '° =°™e t° a brisk conclusion," said the Chamberlain, with no effort to conceal his impatience. "This one will be as brisk as I can make it," said f„'r ^i'""^": "P *',".*'"^ •''•"^^ '^^y I gave you credit vnnr«^l/' ^"'' ^t" "^'^'Trthe rcadiness to answer for yourself when rhe need happened. I was under the THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 315 delusion that your duel with the Frenchman was the prooi 01 It. ." Oh, damn the Frenchman ! " cried the Chan^bcr- lain with conten-^t and irritation. " I am ready to !fi,r u""*" ^S'*'" ^'*'' ^"y arm he chooses." With any arm ! " said the Duke drilv. " 'Tis always well to have a whole one, and not one with a testering sore, as on the last occasion. Oh yes " he went on seeing Simon change colour, "you observe I have earned about the old wound, and, what is more, 1 know exactly where you got it." "Your Grace seems to have trustworthy in- formants," said the Chamberlain less boldly, but in no measure abashed. "I got that wound through your own hand as surely as if you had held the foil inth.^ri'*' ^"'c^^^ ^^°^^ °^ this has risen, as you ought to know, from your sending me to France." And that is true, in a sense, my good sophist. But I was, in that, the unconscious and blameless link in your accursed destiny. I had you sent to France on a plain mission. It was not, I make bold to say, a mission on which the Government would have sent any man but a shrewd one and a gentle- man, and I was mad enough to think Simon Mac- Taggartwas both. When you were in Paris as our drrJin^ ^h; "f'^^ ?™°"' .snapping his fingers and drawing his face in a grimace. "Agent, quo' he ! „ J''^! ^."''^.u ^'^'■"^S^'* •'is shoulders, listening patiently to the interruption. "As you like," sa"d ^t,f "',i^y. spy, then. You were to learn Tr^^ y°" '^""'d °f the Pretender's movements, and incidentalKr you were to intromit w:.h certa n of our settled agents at Versailles. Doubtless a sort of espionage was necessary to the same. But I Z^\^i *° "^y.'^^ ''"^^u^^^ "° ignoble one so long as it was done with soi^^e sincerity and courage, for I count the spy in an enemy's country 3i6 DOOM CASTLE. IS engaged upon the gallantest enterprise of war, using the shrewdness that alone differs the quarrel of the man from the fury of the beast, and himself the more admirable because his task is a thousand times more dangerous than if he fought with the claymore in the field." " .. T.^°"''*'^^^' doubtless 1" said the Chamberlain. I lat s an old tale between the two of us, but you should hear the other side upon it." "No matter; we gave you the credit and the reward of doing your duty as you engaged, and yet you mixed the business up with some extremely dirty work no sophistry of yours or mine will dare defend. You took our money, MacTaggart— and you sold us ! Sit down, sit down and listen like a man ! You sold us— there's the long and the short ot It ; and you sold our friends at Versailles to the very people you were sent yourself to act against Countersap with a vengeance! We know now where Bertin got his information. You betrayed us and the woman Cficile Favart in the one filthy transaction." ^ The Chamberlain showed in his face that the blow was home. His mouth broke, and he grew as grey as a rag. " And that's the way of it ? " he said, after a moment's silence. " That's the way of it," said the Duke. " She was as much the agent—let us say the spy, then— as you were yourself, and seems to have broueht more cun„,„g to the trade than did our simple Simon himself. If her friend Montaiglon had not come here to look for you, and thereby put us on an old trail we had abandoned, we would never r,,?."!^®^"^ *•''= =°"'''=^ of her information." II! be cursed if I have a dog's luck!" cried bimon. „ Argyll looked pityingly at him. " So ! " said he. You mind our old country saying. iV« droch dhuinc dan da fan—a, bad man makes his own fate ? " THE DAY OF JUDGMENT. 317 fircf^i yo" say so? cried MacTaggart, with his hrst sign of actual insolence, and the Duke sighed. My good Simon," .aid he, " I do not require to tell you so, for yon know it very well. What I would add is that all I have said is, so far as I am concerned, betwc m ou. selves : that's my only tribute to our old acquaii fanceship. Only I can afford to Have no more night escapades at Doom or any- where else with my fencibles, and so, Simon, the resignation cannot be a day too soon." " Heaven forbid that I should delay it a second longer than is desirable, and your Grace has it here and now! A fine fracas all this about a puddock- eating Frenchman I I do not value him nor his race to the extent of a pin. And as for your Grace's Chamberlain-well, Simon MacTaggart has done very well hitherto on his own works and merits " ..1\°1 ""^y ''"f,' ''°'' *" *^=i*>" said his Grace, that they were all summed up in a few words-* he was a far-out cousin to the Duke.' Sic itur ad asira." At that Simon put on his hat and laughed with an eerie and unpleasant stridency. He never said another word, but left the room. The sound of his unnatural merr' nent rang on the stair as he descended. " The man is fey," said the Duke to himself. listening with a startled gravity. 318 CHAPTER XLI. h m DAWN. Simon MacTaggart went out possessed by the devils of hatred and chagrin. He saw himself plainly for what he was in truth— a pricked bladder, his career come to in ignoble conclusion, the single honest scheme lit had ever set his heart on brought to nought, and his vanity already wounded sorely at the prospect of a contemptuous world to be faced for the remainder of his days. All this from the romantics of a Frenchman who walked through life in the step of a polonaise, and a short season ago was utterly unaware that such a man as Simon MacTaggart existed, or that a woman named Olivia bloomed, a very flower, among the wilds I At what- ever angle he viewed the congregated disasters of the past few weeks he saw Count Victor in their background — a sardonic, smiling, light-hearted Nemesis ; and if he detested him previously as a merely possible danger, he bated him now with every fibre of his being as the cause of this upheaval. And then, in his way, that is not uncommon with the sinner, he must pity himself because circum- stances had so consistently conspired against him. He had come into the garden after the interview with Argyll had made it plain that the darkest passages in his servant's history were known to him, and had taken off his hat to get the night breeze on his brow which was wet with perspiration. DAWN. 319 The snow was still on the ground ; amonf; the laden bushes, the silent soaring trees of fir and ash, it seemed as if this was no other than the land of outer darkness whereto the lost are driven at the end. It maddened him to think of what he had been brought to : he shook his fist in a childish and impotent petulance at the spacious unregarding east where Doom lay— the scene of all his passions. " God's curse on the breed of meddlers I " he said. " Another month and I was out of these gutters, and Hell no more to tempt me. To be the douce good- man, and all the tales of storm forgotten by the neighbours that may have kent them ; to sit perhaps with bairns— her bairns and mine — about my knee, and never a twinge of the old damnable inclinations, and the flageolet going to the honestest tunes. All lost ! All lost for a rat that takes to the hold of an infernal ship, and comes here to chew at the ropes that dragged me to salvation. This is where it ends I It's the judgment come a day ower soon for Sim MacTaggart. But Sim MacTaggart will make the rat rue his meddling." He had come out with no fixed idea of what he next should do, but one step seemed now imperative — he must go to Doom, otherwise his blood would burst every vein in his body. He set forth with the stimulus of fury for the barracks where his men lay, of whom half-a-dozen at least were his to the gate of the Pit itself, less scrupulous even than himself because more ignorant, possessed of but one or two impulses — a foolish affection for him and an inherited regard for rapine too rarely to be indulged in these tame latter days. To call them out, to find them armed and ready for any enterprise of his, was a matter of brief time. They set out knowing nothing at all of his object, and indifferent so long as this adorable gentleman was to lead them. When they came to Doom the tide was full and round about it. so they retired upon the hillside, sheltering in a little plantation of fir through which 320 DOOM CASTLE. II « 1 1 a^l^.ri'K '*^l''* »**'»' »•«' Doom dense black ^And VP^M ^'"'°"' " .•■K" °f habitation was not'^aike^"''M f^" ""^ "1!*" ""'' f""'* '^e sea, tTon, for J PL '^""«° *"' husy upon the prepara in^Vi. f°f departure, performing them in a Vunereal erie •th";^"'P"r^'? ?^"' "'« ^''<=''"' rooms Tth a grief hat was trivial compared with that of Doom himself, who waited for the dawn as if it w^rt^ waT'werwhh*'^ '''^■''' °^ °^ O"^-- whose J flow was wet with unavaihng tears. It was thpir U^t t"hfm To'^n i^' "'A^'^'' ^""^° -- '° -n-y nr!.^ ft, ^ harbour, where they should embark Ss It'tl'^"' ^?; 1° '^^ 'hem to the Low han usual ?nh ^' '^"'' '''='■8""^ ^ame earlier Kuessine tha i* '^' """^ "^ ^^"* t»'° ^'^k, half. finX al it 1 r^A '° ;u°" '° ^ untenanted, and memoHes oW^"^'"^' **'5 e^««-grown mound of ^rjuf kt ?h '°f *"■* .*^"' '° •"=' window to !^, °2* ^? *"^'?' and saw them as yet but vaeue ferey, floating shapes slanting against the pXg the^?etwlrd !!}%h°"'''l°''' '-T-' '^^ ''"^^ '"^^^^ t° «fl tfu ■ ^^^ ''°^^' with its mast stepped, its sail billowing with a rustle in the faint air and Mungo at the sheet. The dawn came slow y. but Srtion°o?th/°/ l**" '^'P^i^'^S' ^"'^ 'he lanLarf S^Doed f„^h °^X "^^^ '"" '" shadow when Olivia hU^^u T^ 7r'^^ ^ tear-stained face, and a trem- bling hand on Victor's arm. He shared her sorrow but was proud and happy too that her trfals, "sTe hoped, were over. They took their seat in the boat and waited for the Baron. Now the tide was down Seenfhemarr^.'" tiny rivulets upon theland Detween the mainland and the rock, and Simon and theafo7th°;f "''"v!'y--, ^™°" '^-l' ^°d turned hand to finH fh r""^^"" ''^'*''>: ^''h his sword in his nana to hnd the Baron emerging. He had not sPfn to fla,°h ' ""'^ I*? ""'^"P^"'^' h"t the situation seemeS to flash upon him, and he uttered a cry of rage Doom dr^w back under the frowning eyebrow of DAWN. 321 what had been his home, tURged the weapon from his scabbard, and threw himself on guard. This IS kind, indeed," he said in a pause of his assailant s confusion at finding this was not the man he sought. 'You have come to say 'Good-bye.' On guard, black dog, on guard I " "So dhuit matat-here then is for you," cried him, and waving back his followers, engaged with a rasp of stee . It lasted but a moment : D^m crouched a little upon bending knees, with a straight arm, parrying the assault of a point that flew in wild disorder. He broke ground for a few yards with feints in ouarte. He followed on a riposte with a lunge — short, sharp, conclusive, for it took his victim in the chest and passed through at the other side vyith a thud of the "hilt against his bod;' Sim not whnlf T''\^? company clustering round him, not wholly forgetful of retaliation, but influenced by his hand that forbade their interference with his enemy. u" ^'?^".".P y^""" fi'th ' " said Doom in the Gaelic, sh^thmg his sword and turning to join his daughter! He took Drimdarroch from me. and now. by God ' he's welcome to Doom." "Not our old friends, surely ? " said Count Victor, lookmg backward at the cluster of men. further ^^'"^'" ^''^ °°°'"' *"'* """P' ^'^ '=°""^^' Count Victor put his arm round Olivia's waist. The boats prow fell off; the sail filled; she ran with a pleasant ripple through the waves, and there followed her a cry that only Doom of all the com- pany knew was a coronach, followed by the music of i)im MacTaggart's flageolet. It rose above the ripple of the waves, above the screaming of he birds, finally stilling the coronach, thnt h H^'ft ^r^ an utterance to was the same that had of en charmed the midnight bower, failing at the last abruptly as it had always done before By heavens ! it is my Mary's favourite air, and 322 DOOM CASTLE. that was all she knew of it," said Doom, and his face grew white with memory and a speculation. Had he found the end of that air," said Count Victor, "he had found, as he said himself, another man. But I, perhaps, had never found Olivia I " THE END, '. his aunt ther