his face, just
as, startled in his turn and fully expecting an attack, Henry took a
couple of steps backward and drew his sword.

CHAPTER FORTY FOUR.

THE ESCAPE.

For a few moments excitement got the better of the grave subtle doctor,
and he was within touch of flinging open the door and hurrying Francis
out into the grounds. But drawing in a deep breath he was cautious the
next moment as some lurking beast of prey.

The key was turned by slow degrees without a sound, and the door drawn
carefully inward till there was a slight crack, through which the night
wind came in pleasantly to his heated brow, and he paused for quite five
minutes, listening; then gradually opening more and more, he satisfied
himself that there were no concealed guards among the bushes, waiting to
spring upon him and make him prisoner when he stepped outside.

His next act was to remove the key to the garden side of the lock. This
done, "Now," he whispered, and Francis, who seemed more than ever under
his control, stepped quietly out, followed by Saint Simon; after which
the door was cautiously locked, and Leoni slipped the key into his
pocket.

There was another pause, which made Saint Simon utter a low deep growl.

"What is it, boy?" said Leoni.

"The boat! The boat!" whispered the young man. "We are losing time."

"Perhaps gaining it, my dear Saint Simon," was the reply. "Youth is
rash; age is cautious. Our progress must be slow and sure."

He took and pressed the young man's hands as he spoke, before leaving
him to take a few strides for observation along the path, and then
returning, musing to himself that all seemed too easy, and that at any
moment there might be some sudden check to their progress.

Back once more, he bade his two companions follow, leading them slowly
and cautiously on, sword in one hand, stiletto in the other, as
advance-guard, Saint Simon, similarly prepared, forming the rear; and
then on and on they went downward through the bushes, which ever and
again brushed against their sleeves, and twice over startled and
arrested by a sudden dash as of an enemy; but it was nothing worse than
a startled bird, blackbird or thrush, roused from its roosting sleep by
the disturbers of its rest.

And so downward along the winding, well-marked paths, with nothing to
hinder their progress, no guards to arrest, and Leoni strong in the
belief that some great check must come, settling in his mind that the
encounter