and sicklied dulness to her light, and
whereever in the niches and hollows of the cliff the shadows fell, all
was utterly dark and unbroken by the smallest ray; only along the near
waves of the sea and the whiter parts of the level sand were objects
easily discernible. I strode to and fro for a few minutes before the
Castle Cave; I saw no one, and I seated myself in stern vigilance upon
a stone, in a worn recess of the rock, and close by the mouth of the
Castle Cave. The spot where I sat was wrapped in total darkness, and I
felt assured that I might wait my own time for disclosing myself. I had
not been many minutes at my place of watch before I saw the figure of a
man approach from the left; he moved with rapid steps, and once when he
passed along a place where the wan light of the skies was less obscured
I saw enough of his form and air to recognize Montreuil. He neared the
cave; he paused; he was within a few paces of me; I was about to rise,
when another figure suddenly glided from the mouth of the cave itself.

"Ha!" cried the latter, "it is Bertrand Collinot: Fate be lauded!"

Had a voice from the grave struck my ear, it would have scarcely amazed
me more than that which I now heard. Could I believe my senses? the
voice was that of Desmarais, whom I had left locked within the inner
chamber of the tower! "Fly," he resumed, "fly instantly; you have not a
moment to lose: already the stern Morton waits thee; already the hounds
of justice are on thy track; tarry not for the pirates, but begone at
once."

"You rave, man! What mean you? the boats will be here immediately. While
you yet speak methinks I can descry them on the sea. Something of this
I dreaded when, some hours ago, I caught a glimpse of Gerald on the road
to------. I saw not the face of his companion; but I would not trust
myself in the tower: yet I must await the boats; flight is indeed
requisite, but _they_ make the only means by which flight is safe!"

"Pray, then, thou who believest, pray that they may come soon, or thou
diest and I with thee! Morton is returned,--is reconciled to his weak
brother. Gerald and Oswald are away to------for men to seize and drag
thee to a public death. I was arrested,--threatened; but one way to
avoid prison and cord was shown me. Curse me, Bertrand, for I embraced
it. I told them thou wouldst fly to-night, and with whom. They locked me
in the inner chamber of the tower; Morton kept guard without. At length
I heard him l