Part 4 (1/2)

She opened the gla.s.s door, and he came in. His clothes were smeared and torn, and there was blood upon his hand.

”Something has happened,” he said. ”I don't know what it is, but the garden is surrounded, and there is someone watching at the door I came in at. I have tried all the other ways. I have tried to climb the wall, but there was gla.s.s at the top. I can't get out. And they are searching the gardens with lanterns.”

Even as he spoke they saw lights moving among the ilexes.

”They can't know,” she said faintly.

”It does not seem possible. They are probably looking for someone else, but I can't be found here at this hour without raising suspicion. Is there any way out through the house from here?”

”Only down the grand staircase.”

”I must risk it. Show me the way.”

They went together down the almost dark corridor. Fay's heart sickened at the thought that a belated servant might see them. But all was quiet.

At the head of the staircase they both peered over the bal.u.s.trade. At its foot in a narrow circle of light stood the duke and Lord John, and a man with a tri-coloured sash. Even as they looked, the three turned and began slowly to mount the staircase.

Fay and Michael were back in her boudoir in a moment.

”There is a way out here,” he said, indicating the door into her bedroom.

”It leads into my bedroom, and then through to Andrea's rooms. There is no pa.s.sage, and he has a dog in his room. It would bark.”

”I must go back to the garden again,” he said, and instantly moved to the window. Both saw two _carabinieri_ standing with a lantern at the foot of the balcony steps.

”If you go down now,” said Fay hoa.r.s.ely, ”my reputation goes with you.”

He looked at her.

It was as if his whole life were focussed on one burning point; how to save her from suspicion. If he could have shrivelled into ashes at her feet he would have done it. She saw her frightful predicament, and almost hated him.

The animal panic of being trapped caught them both simultaneously. He overcame it instantly, while she shook helplessly as in a palsy.

He went swiftly back to the door leading to the staircase, and glanced through it.

”They are coming along the corridor,” he said. ”They will certainly come in here.”

”Stand behind the screen,” she gasped. ”I will say no one has been here, and they will pa.s.s through into the other room. As soon as they have left the room go quickly out by the staircase.”

He looked round him once, and then walked behind a tall screen of Italian leather which stood at the head of a divan.

Fay took up her book from the floor, but her numb fingers refused to hold it. She put it on the edge of the table near her, under the lamp, hid her shaking hands in the folds of her long white chiffon gown, and fixed her eyes upon the page.

The words of the dead saint swam before her eyes:

”_Yea, He loveth us now as well while we are here, as He shall do while we are there afore His blessed face. But for failing of love on our part, therefore is all our travail._”

There were subdued footsteps outside, a tap, the duke's voice.

”May I come in?”