"Very well, Lackington, keep him in his room. I will go through here to
Nichol."
Isabel had drawn a sharp breath as the voice began, and as the door
opened wider she turned and faced it. Then Hubert came in, and recoiled
on the threshold. There fell a complete silence in the room.
"Hubert," said Isabel after a moment, "what are you doing here?"
Hubert shut the door abruptly and leaned against it, staring at her; his
face had gone white under the tan. Isabel still looked at him steadily,
and her eyes were eloquent. Then she spoke again, and something in her
voice quickened the beating of Mary's heart as she listened.
"Hubert, have you forgotten us?"
Still Hubert stared; then he stood upright. The two men-at-arms were
watching in astonishment.
"I will see to the ladies," he said abruptly, and waved his hand. They
still hesitated a moment.
"Go," he said again sharply, and pointed to the door. He was a
magistrate, and responsible; and they turned and went.
Then Hubert looked at Isabel again.
"Isabel," he said, "if I had known----"
"Stay," she interrupted, "there is no time for explanations except mine.
Anthony is in the house; I do not know where. You must save him."
There was no entreaty or anxiety in her voice; nothing but a supreme
dignity and an assurance that she would be obeyed.
"But----" he began. The door was opened from the hall, and a little party
of searchers appeared, but halted when the magistrate turned round.
Pages:
639
640
641
642
643
644
645
646
647
648
649
650
651
652
653
654
655
656
657
658
659
660
661
662
663