Part 45 (1/2)
”Where you will, doctor, only we o and help save the rest You don't wish to see her in the hands of the police, appearing against her brother and his confederates?”
”God help , then, man It's all over now I knew it must come
Doctor, you saved my life I must trust you I know you love her, and that she loves you I trust her to your honour as a gentleman”
”You may,” said Chester, ”and--”
”Don't talk, man Come while the way is open They'll break in, as sure as we are here Come”
Chester lifted Marion in his ar caught up the doctor's hat, and led the way into the hall, where the police were thundering at the door; and then downstairs, where sounds were heard fro the door there
”Shall I take her?” said Robert, as they reached the lower passage
”No; I can carry her easily”
”This way, then,” and to Chester's astonishe at the end of which was the ordinary-looking door
”Hu act of kindness; he must have been the last”
”Where does that door lead?” cried Chester, as Marion uttered a sigh indicative of recovery
”To safety, doctor,” said the young man, sadly ”Foxes always have a second hole, and a way of using it”
He drew a key fro open the door, and made room for his companion to bear his sister into the square lobby, which was littered edges, the powder tin, pistols, keys, ha in one corner, while in one spot a quantity of sawdust seeht reflected light which shone out frolohile the odour of exploded powder struck on Chester's nostrils at once
As soon as they were inside, Robert calmly drew the door close, and just then Marion opened her eyes and looked wildly from one to the other
”Where am I?” she said faintly
”Where you have never been before, sis, but quite safe,” replied her brother ”There, don't look like that; the doctor and I are friends”
”Ah, I reled to her feet, and seized her brother's ar you ever did in your life I alad it has coreat a coward, I suppose, dear There, God bless you! I hope you'll be very happy now”
”No, no, Rob! I cannot leave you”
”Eh?” he said, s bitterly, as he took out another key ”Yes; he has promised me, dear, and he is as true as steel There, I trust him, and you feel as if you can Take her somewhere, doctor, where the police cannot find her out She's innocent enough, but no one would believe Coh I suppose it would be hours before they could get through here I never thought I should sohtly; ”certainly not to Dr Chester There we are”
He had thrust the sht key he had held into the lock of the iron door, and turned it, the bolts yielding easily in spite of the grit of powder still left in; and clinging now to Chester's ar open, Marion, at a word from her brother, stepped forward into the iron-floored receptacle, then he followed and closed the door behind hi
In the demoralisation which had ensued it had been undoubtedly sauve qui peut, only one of the party see to think of anyone else This was the old professor, who hurried upstairs, unlocked the chah to follow hih, to Chester's wondere and crypt, and up again into the book-cu as if it had not had a soul therein for years