t seemed hopeless, though, and too much to expect; for it was not
likely that the cutter would be still cruising about and waiting for
him. If she was, though, he knew how he could bring a boat's crew
well-armed ashore, and that was by making a signal with a light in a
particular way.

The sun was getting lower, and everything round the old place was still,
nothing but a couple of fowls that were pecking about in what had once
been a large garden between the old house and the moat, being visible.

It had once been a goodly residence, no doubt, but all now was ruin and
desolation, except that the warm sunshine made even the neglect and
weeds look picturesque. There were massive gables to right and left,
and the old tiles were orange and grey with a thick coating of lichen.
Just between his window and that of Adela there were the mouldering
remains of a carved shield, with surmounting helmet and crest, and a
decayed motto below, while to right and left the ivy had covered the
front with its dark-green glossy leaves, among which the cable-like
runners could be seen.

Anywhere, almost, along the front of the venerable place he could have
climbed down by the help of the ivy; in his neighbourhood, however, it
had been cleared away.

He wondered sometimes how it was that he had heard no more of Adela, and
that everything about the place should be so still, and concluded that
Sir Henry had forbidden her to hold counsel with him, and in this belief
he sat on waiting until the sun went down in a flood of orange glory.

Just then he heard Allstone's heavy step upon the stairs, and coming
away from the window Hilary threw himself upon his bed over the hidden
rope.

But he need not have feared that it would be seen, for Allstone simply
placed some food upon the table and went away directly after, locking
the door.

The repast though rough and plain was substantial, and very welcome.
Hilary felt somewhat agitated at the attempt he was about to make; but
he knew that he needed fortifying with food, and he ate heartily,
placing the remains of his meal in his pockets as a reserve for
by-and-by.

As the sun went down the moon began to make its presence known; but it
was early in its first quarter, and in the course of a couple of hours
it too had set, leaving the sky to the stars, which twinkled brightly,
doing little, though, to dispel the darkness.

In fact, by about nine, as he guessed it to be, the night was as
suitable