ve you, and in such a place as this?"

"I assure you I am not in the slightest danger."

"I shall feel terribly anxious."

"H-s-s-s-h! no more of this. Listen now."

"Well?"

Ethel bent lower, and whispered in his ear, in even lower tones than
ever, the plan which she had contrived.

CHAPTER XXX.

A DESPERATE PLAN.

Ethel's plan was hastily revealed. The position was exceedingly
perilous; time was short, and this was the only way of escape.

It was the priest who had concocted it, and he had thought of it as
the only plan by which Hawbury's rescue could be effected. This
ingenious Irishman had also formed another plan for the rescue of
Minnie and her sister, which was to be attempted in due course of
time.

Now no ordinary mode of escape was possible for Hawbury. A strict
watch was kept. The priest had noticed on his approach that guards
were posted in different directions in such a way that no fugitive
from the house could elude them. He had also seen that the guard
inside the house was equally vigilant. To leap from the window and run
for it would be certain death, for that was the very thing which the
brigands anticipated. To make a sudden rush down the stairs was not
possible, for at the door below there were guards; and there, most
vigilant of all, was Girasole himself.

The decision of the Irish priest was correct, as has been proved in
the case of Dacres, who, in spite of all his caution, was observed and
captured. Of this the priest knew nothing, but judged from what he
himself had seen on his approach to the house.

The plan of the priest had been hastily communicated to Ethel, who
shared his convictions and adopted his conclusions. She also had
noticed the vigilance with which the guard had been kept up, and only
the fact that a woman had been sent for and was expected with the
priest had preserved her from discovery and its consequences. As it
was, however, no notice was taken of her, and her pretended character
was assumed to be her real one. Even Girasole had scarcely glanced at
her. A village peasant was of no interest in his eyes. His only
thought was of Minnie, and the woman that the priest brought was only
used as a desperate effort to show a desire for her comfort. After he
had decided to separate the sisters the woman was of more importance;
but he had nothing to say to her, and thus Ethel had effected her
entrance to Minnie's presence in safety, with the result that has been