He waited;... and then, as he waited, he drew an
irrepressible hissing breath of terror, for beneath the soft padding
under his feet he could feel movements; blow follow blow, from the same
direction, and last a great clamour of voices all shouting together.
Feet ran across the floor on which his hands were gripped again, and
down the stairs. He perceived two things: the chapel was empty again,
and the priests below had been found.
V
He could follow every step of the drama after that, for he appeared to
himself now as a mere witness, without personal part in it.
First, there were voices below him, so clear and close that he could
distinguish the intonation, and who it was that spoke, though the words
were inaudible.
It was Mr. Garlick who first spoke--a sentence of a dozen words, it
might be, consenting, no doubt, to come out without being dragged;
congratulating, perhaps (as the manner was), the searchers on their
success. A murmur of answer came back, and then one sharp, peevish voice
by itself. Again Mr. Garlick spoke, and there followed the shuffling of
movements for a long while; and then, so far as the little chamber was
concerned, empty silence. But from the hall rose up a steady murmur of
talk once more....
Again Robin's heart leaped in him, for there came the rattle of a
pike-end immediately below his feet. They were searching the little
chamber beneath, from the level of the hall, to see if it were empty.
Pages:
404
405
406
407
408
409
410
411
412
413
414
415
416
417
418
419
420
421
422
423
424
425
426
427
428