"
"You must be right," answered Mary, and, turning, led the way up
the stair of the tower, and through a gap in the wall out upon
the top of the great walls.
It was a sultry night. A storm was brooding between heaven and
earth. The moon was not yet up, and it was so dark that they had
to feel their way along the wall, glad of the protection of a
fence of thick ivy on the outer side. Looking down into the court
on the one hand, and across the hall to the lawn on the other,
they saw no living thing in the light from various windows, and
there was little danger of being discovered. In the gable was
only the one window for which they were making. Mary went first,
as better knowing the path, also as having the better right to
look in. Through the window, as she went, she could see the
flicker, but not the fire. All at once came a great blaze. It
lasted but a moment--long enough, however, to let them see
plainly into a small closet, the door of which was partly open.
"That is the room, I do believe," whispered Mary. "There is a
closet, but I never was in it."
"If only the window be not bolted!" returned Joseph.
The same instant Mary heard the voice of Mr. Redmain call in a
tone of annoyance--"Mary! Mary Marston! I want you. Who is that
in the room?--Damn you! who are you?"
"Let me pass you," said Joseph, and, making her hold to the ivy,
here spread on to the gable, he got between Mary and the window.
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