Part 49 (1/2)

He drew the Colonel over to the big stone.

”There used to be a crack along the edge here,” he said, very low, ”where I could listen, and also see a very little, but it seems to have been closed. Shall I swing the stone, sir?”

Moore hesitated. What lay behind the stone? His last look at the library windows, from far down the hillside, had shown no light within; yet was it really so, or was it only that the curtains were drawn? If the Princess would but consent to remain here, at least until he had gone in and inspected. He glanced at her uncertainly, and she read his mind, and shook her head.

”I follow you,” she said.

With a sigh, he adjusted his mask; she and De Coursey and Marsov did the same.

”Does the stone move easily?” he asked.

”It did when I used it, sir,” said Jessac.

”Can you open it only a trifle at first?”

”No, my lord, once started it must make its swing.”

”And if there be something in the way?”

”There never used to be, sir; it was always kept clear.”

”Then pray Heaven it is so still.” He loosed his sword and shut off the torch. ”Open!” he ordered.

”It seems to hold, sir,” said Jessac presently; ”I can't move it-may I have the light a moment?... Now, I'll try again.”

They heard him pus.h.i.+ng; gently, then harder, finally with all his strength.

”I can't do it, my lord,” he said; ”it's either out of balance or has been closed on the inside.”

The Princess gave an exclamation of alarm.

”What!” said she impatiently, ”it can't be opened?-we have failed?

impossible, it must be opened-try again, Jessac.”

”May be it's only jammed,” said Moore; ”come, I'll help you.”

But still the stone refused to stir-suddenly it moved a very little-caught-moved a little more-caught again-then wrenched itself free, with a grinding sc.r.a.pe, and swung slowly around.

They heard it collide with something; the next moment came a terrific crash of shattering gla.s.s, and the resounding clatter of a metal tray.

Moore ground back an oath.

”Close the stone!” said he instantly, ”quick, man, quick!”

But though it seemed to take an eternity to shut down, there was not the slightest sound, or other indication that any one had been aroused.

”What shall we do?” he asked the Princess; ”that din must have been heard; shall we wait and risk another try, or escape now by the postern before we could be cut off?”

”We will risk another try,” said she, at once. ”Give the word whenever you wish.”

For himself he was well content; his fighting blood was up, and here might be his opportunity to have it out with Lotzen, so he settled back to wait, harkening for the sound of any one coming by the pa.s.sage; the location of the broken gla.s.s would tell the Duke instantly the cause, and his first act, naturally, would be to send a party around to intercept them; though, being a stranger in his own castle, he might not know of the secret way, in which case the accident would have no materially adverse result save, possibly, to startle those within hearing from a sound sleep.