, 1905-12-20
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to IanSton TO tell AWurey llat all was
well.
But Sir Burton Prendergast was not
n vindictive malignant for nothing. and
in laying my plans l had not paid sufi-
cient heed either to all that he knew or
to all that he would do. And this | was
to discover ut the Grange in the after,
noon of that Hateful Christmas eve.
1t was Just dusk, and while waiting
for Master Lovelace to put himself i'll
my charge Audrey and young Gorham
and | stood in the decorated hall chat
ting with that mingling of nervousness
and strained cheerfulness which the
crisis of such Il matter will commonly
evoke when the actors are all alike full
of anxiety and each wishful to hide the
feeling from the others.
"You are rather like our guest In
build. Godfrey" said Gorham. but
Awdrey protested with a blush and a
flash of the eyes. Gorham, boylike, was
the more positive for the protest. how
ever. and made me stand with my back
to them while he pointed out the marks
Of resemblance. and they were still
discussing this when we caught sight
of the guest coming down the stairs.
Just at hat same moment one of the
serving men dashed In at the front
door and with signs of great excite
ment and fear exclaimed:
There's a troop of soldiers in the
avenue Mistress Awdrey, coming to
the house. They are almost at the
door"
Our CONSERVATION may be imagined.
Awdrey turned IL lie marble
pedestal of the gre3t a,itue against
which we were grouped. Catching Cor
ham by the arm, | pushed him and the
servant toward the door and whis-
pered:
Take the fellow away and go to
meet the soldiers and shut the door be-
hind you. Quick, boy, quick" The mo-
ment he was gone / darted behind the
statue, thrust open the secret entrance
10 the hiding place and called to Mas
ter Lovelace. Your only chance of
safety is here, sir" | said, and without
more ado | bundled him into it and
closed the entrance after him, whisper
ing to him to lie as still as death.
"Open the door now, Audrey, and re-
member, sweetheart, Master Lovelace
left yesterday
Then, making a great effort, we be-
gam to talk and laugh together, much
in our usual fashion. when Gorham
a , , l.o1 81 With 4hn ~ ~ oor in oop,p,opI
of the soldiers.
81 am sorry to intrude upon an I'M
pleasant errand at such Il time, mad
am he said to Awdrey, but unhappi-
ly | have no option. / am Captain Hill
airy, and my Instructors are that a per-
son of dangerous Importance, no less
than the young pretender, is here in
Lanston Grange disguised as one Rich
ard Lovelace, and | have to request
you to deliver him to me-"
"Perhaps you will allow me to an
swer you, captain. | am Sir Guy Ian
ston's nephew, Sir Godfrey Hardinge,
at your service, and caring for matters
here in my uncle's absence. My cousins
are scarcely fit to deal with such Il
business. \ Master Richard Lovelace
was here, but if you will inquire you
will find that he left yesterday"
The officer answered suavely:
"AIy Instructions are very precise and
clear, SIR
"That may be. but 1 am not concern
ed with them. Whence comes your in
formation2 Who is the spy hat ma
ligns my uncle in his absence?"
Il cannot reveal the source of my
information, sir, but I have my duty
to do answered the officer.
"And will do it like q gentleman and
a man of honor, | am sure. And since
we have many Christmas guests on the
point of arrival | would beg you to do
your will speedily"
Without more ado, a number of the
men were brought in, and while Aw-
drey, Gerham and | waited in the hall
they spread all over the house and
searched it from roof to cellar. AT the
end Of an hour or so Captain Hilary
came with many apologies for the un-
welcome business and declared that he
had evidently been misled by wrong In
formation.
We watched the soldiers form up and
depart, and Audrey drew a deep sigh
of relief as she linked her arm In mine.
How good that you were here, Geof-
frey" she whispered. "And what
next?'
"As soon as they are well away your
guest and | must be off. Gorham, see
that the horses are ready and then slip
away and watch the men well out of
Quick. lad"