[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]
drew as close as he could, and was amazed to see a patch of light on the ground before him; when he
realised what it was, he was determined, more than ever to follow on his quest. The nigger had a dark
lantern in his hand, and was throwing the light down the steep incline. The glare showed a series of stone
steps, which ended in a low-lying heavy iron door fixed against the side of the house. All the strange things
he had heard from Sir Nathaniel, and all those, little and big, which he had himself noticed, crowded into his
mind in a chaotic way. Instinctively he took refuge behind a thick oak stem, and set himself down, to watch
what might occur.
After a short time it became apparent that the African was trying to find out what was behind the heavy
door. There was no way of looking in, for the door fitted tight into the massive stone slabs. The only
opportunity for the entrance of light was through a small hole between the great stones above the door. This
hole was too high up to look through from the ground level. Oolanga, having tried standing tiptoe on the
highest point near, and holding the lantern as high as he could, threw the light round the edges of the door to
see if he could find anywhere a hole or a flaw in the metal through which he could obtain a glimpse. Foiled
in this, he brought from the shrubbery a plank, which he leant against the top of the door and then climbed
up with great dexterity. This did not bring him near enough to the window-hole to look in, or even to throw
the light of the lantern through it, so he climbed down and carried the plank back to the place from which he
had got it. Then he concealed himself near the iron door and waited, manifestly with the intent of remaining
there till someone came near. Presently Lady Arabella, moving noiselessly through the shade, approached
the door. When he saw her close enough to touch it, Oolanga stepped forward from his concealment, and
spoke in a whisper, which through the gloom sounded like a hiss.
"I want to see you, missy--soon and secret."
"What do you want?"
"You know well, missy; I told you already."
She turned on him with blazing eyes, the green tint in them glowing like emeralds.
"Come, none of that. If there is anything sensible which you wish to say to me, you can see me here, just
where we are, at seven o'clock."
He made no reply in words, but, putting the backs of his hands together, bent lower and lower till his
forehead touched the earth. Then he rose and went slowly away.
Adam Salton, from his hiding-place, saw and wondered. In a few minutes he moved from his place and
went home to Lesser Hill, fully determined that seven o'clock would find him in some hidden place behind
Diana's Grove.
At a little before seven Adam stole softly out of the house and took the back-way to the rear of Diana's
Grove. The place seemed silent and deserted, so he took the opportunity of concealing himself near the spot
whence he had seen Oolanga trying to investigate whatever was concealed behind the iron door. He waited,
perfectly still, and at last saw a gleam of white passing soundlessly through the undergrowth. He was not
surprised when he recognised the colour of Lady Arabella's dress. She came close and waited, with her face
to the iron door. From some place of concealment near at hand Oolanga appeared, and came close to her.
Adam noticed, with surprised amusement, that over his shoulder was the box with the mongoose. Of course
the African did not know that he was seen by anyone, least of all by the man whose property he had with
him.
Silent-footed as he was, Lady Arabella heard him coming, and turned to meet him. It was somewhat hard
to see in the gloom, for, as usual, he was all in black, only his collar and cuffs showing white. Lady Arabella
opened the conversation which ensued between the two.
"What do you want? To rob me, or murder me?"
"No, to lub you!"
This frightened her a little, and she tried to change the tone.
"Is that a coffin you have with you? If so, you are wasting your time. It would not hold me."
When a nigger suspects he is being laughed at, all the ferocity of his nature comes to the front; and this
man was of the lowest kind.
"Dis ain't no coffin for nobody. Dis box is for you. Somefin you lub. Me give him to you!"
Still anxious to keep off the subject of affection, on which she believed him to have become crazed, she
made another effort to keep his mind elsewhere.
"Is this why you want to see me?" He nodded. "Then come round to the other door. But be quiet. I
have no desire to be seen so close to my own house in conversation with a--a--a nigger like you!"
She had chosen the word deliberately. She wished to meet his passion with another kind. Such would, at
all events, help to keep him quiet. In the deep gloom she could not see the anger which suffused his face.
Rolling eyeballs and grinding teeth are, however, sufficient signs of anger to be decipherable in the dark.
She moved round the corner of the house to her right. Oolanga was following her, when she stopped him by
raising her hand.
"No, not that door," she said; "that is not for niggers. The other door will do well enough for you!"
Lady Arabella took in her hand a small key which hung at the end of her watch-chain, and moved to a
small door, low down, round the corner, and a little downhill from the edge of the Brow. Oolanga, in
obedience to her gesture, went back to the iron door. Adam looked carefully at the mongoose box as the
African went by, and was glad to see that it was intact. Unconsciously, as he looked, he fingered the key
that was in his waistcoat pocket. When Oolanga was out of sight, Adam hurried after Lady Arabella.
CHAPTER XVIII
EXIT OOLANGA
The woman turned sharply as Adam touched her shoulder.
"One moment whilst we are alone. You had better not trust that nigger!" he whispered.
Her answer was crisp and concise:
"I don't."
"Forewarned is forearmed. Tell me if you will--it is for your own protection. Why do you mistrust
him?"
"My friend, you have no idea of that man's impudence. Would you believe that he wants me to marry
him?"
"No!" said Adam incredulously, amused in spite of himself.
"Yes, and wanted to bribe me to do it by sharing a chest of treasure--at least, he thought it was--stolen
from Mr. Caswall. Why do you distrust him, Mr. Salton?"
"Did you notice that box he had slung on his shoulder? That belongs to me. I left it in the gun-room
when I went to lunch. He must have crept in and stolen it. Doubtless he thinks that it, too, is full of
treasure."
"He does!"
"How on earth do you know?" asked Adam.
"A little while ago he offered to give it to me--another bribe to accept him. Faugh! I am ashamed to tell
you such a thing. The beast!"
Whilst they had been speaking, she had opened the door, a narrow iron one, well hung, for it opened
easily and closed tightly without any creaking or sound of any kind. Within all was dark; but she entered as
[ Pobierz całość w formacie PDF ]