"How did you dispose of the man who watches below my window?" she
inquired, drawing near. "He has been there for the past three nights.
I missed him to-night."
"Wasn't he there earlier in the evening?" demanded Sprouse quickly.
"I have been in my room since eleven. He seldom comes on duty before
that hour."
"I had it figured out that he was one of the men we got down in the
woods. If I have miscalculated--well, poor Barnes may be in for a bad
time. We are quite safe up here for the time being. The fellow will
assume that Barnes is alone and that he comes to pay his respects to
you in a rather romantic manner."
"You must warn Mr. Barnes. He--"
"May I not leave that to you, Countess? I shall be very busy for the
next few minutes, and if you will--Be careful! A slip now would be
fatal. Don't be hasty." His whispering was sharp and imperative. It
was a command that he uttered, and she shrank back in surprise.
"Pray do not presume to address me in--"
"I crave your pardon, my lady," he murmured abjectly. "You are not
dressed for flight. May I suggest that while I am outside you slip on
a dark skirt and coat? You cannot go far in that dressing-gown. It
would be in shreds before you had gone a hundred feet through the
brush.
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