At the end of that time he heard a stealthy step upon the stairs, and with infinite precautions threw off his bedclothes and sat upright, ready for instant departure.

But how slowly and with what a superfluity of precaution his jailor moved! When the door at length opened he wondered that no ray of light fell this time.
"Dugald!" he whispered eagerly.
"Hush!" replied a softer voice than Dugald's; as soft, indeed, as Eleanor's, yet clearly different.
"Who is zat ?" he gasped.
"Eva Gallosh!" said the silken voice.

"Oh, is that you ?" "Yes--yes--it is me." "And are you really a Baron and an ambassador ?" "Oh yes--yes--certainly I am." "Then--then I've come to help you to escape! I've bribed Dugald--and I've got a dog-cart here.

Come quickly--but oh, be very quiet!" For a moment the Baron actually hesitated to flee from that loathed apartment.

It seemed to him that if Fortune desired to provide him with opportunities of escape she might have had the sense to offer these one at a time.