KINGSTON LISLE.
About half-past ten, and when it was supposed that
the king and his courtiers had retired to rest (for
early hours were kept in those days), Mrs. Buscot
and Leonard repaired to Amabel’s chamber.
The good housekeeper noticed with great uneasiness
that her niece looked excessively pale and agitated,
and she would have persuaded her to abandon all idea
of flight, if she had not feared that her stay might
be attended with still worse consequences.
Before the party set out, Mrs. Buscot crept down stairs
to see that all was safe, and returned almost instantly,
with the very satisfactory intelligence that Chiffinch
was snoring in a chair in the hall, and that the usher
had probably retired to rest, as he was nowhere to
be seen. Not a moment, therefore, was to be lost,
and they descended the great staircase as noiselessly
as possible. So far all had gone well; but on
gaining the hall, Amabel’s strength completely
deserted her, and if Leonard had not caught her in
his arms, she must have fallen. He was hurrying
forward with his burden towards a passage on the right,
when Chiffinch, who had been disturbed by the noise,
suddenly started to his feet, and commanded him to
stop. At this moment, a figure enveloped in a
cloak darted from behind a door, and extinguishing
the lamp which Chiffinch had taken from the table,
seized him with a powerful grasp. All was now
buried in darkness, and while Leonard Holt was hesitating
what to do, he heard a voice, which he knew to be that
of Pillichody, whisper in his ear, “Come with
me—I will secure your retreat. Quick!
quick!”
Suffering himself to be drawn along, and closely followed
by Nizza Macascree and Mrs. Buscot, Leonard crossed
the dining-chamber, not without stumbling against
some of the furniture by the way, and through an open
window into the court, where he found Blaize awaiting
him. Without waiting for thanks, Pillichody then
disappeared, and Mrs. Buscot, having pointed out the
course he ought to pursue, bade him farewell.
Hurrying across the court, he reached the south avenue,
but had not proceeded far when it became evident,
from the lights at the windows, as well as from the
shouts and other noises proceeding from the court,
that their flight was discovered. Encumbered
as he was by his lovely burden, Leonard ran on so
swiftly, that Nizza Macascree and Blaize could scarcely
keep up with him. They found John Lutcombe at
the end of the avenue with the horses, and mounting
them, set off along the downs, accompanied by the
keeper, who acted as their guide. Striking off
on the right, they came to a spot covered over with
immense grey stones, resembling those rocky fragments
used by the Druids in the construction of a cromlech,
and, as it was quite dark, it required some caution
in passing through them. Guided by the keeper,
who here took hold of the bridle of his horse, Leonard
