It flamed up brilliantly, and in the strong red light he half opened a
clenched hand and showed me two gold pieces, and beneath them
a folded paper. I looked at his furtive eyes and brutal, doltish face,
but he kept them blank as a wall. The hand closed again over the
treasure within it, and he turned away as if to leave the room. I
drew a noble - one of a small store of gold pieces conveyed to me
by Rolfe - from my pocket, and stooping made it spin upon the
hearth in the red firelight. The gaoler looked at it askance, but
continued his progress toward the door. I drew out its fellow, set it
too to spinning, then leaned back against the table. "They hunt in
couples," I said. "There will be no third one."
He had his foot upon them before they had done spinning. The
next moment they had kissed the two pieces already in his
possession, and he had transferred all four to his pocket. I held out
my hand for the paper, and he gave it to me grudgingly, with a
spiteful slowness of movement. He would have stayed beside me
as I read it, but I sternly bade him keep his distance; then kneeling
before the fire to get the light, I opened the paper. It was written
upon in a delicate, woman's hand, and it ran thus: -
An you hold me dear, come to me at once. Come without tarrying
to the deserted hut on the neck of land, nearest to the forest.
Pages:
297
298
299
300
301
302
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321