"Ah!" he exclaimed, smiling, "your reluctance to accept is but natural.
Well, I can do no more, I have fulfilled my mission. The woman you love has staked her young life--and alas! lost. She has counted upon your aid in this hour of her extremity and despair, yet if you withhold it I must return and tell her."
"But I love her," I said. "Surely I may know who she is, and why she is haunted by this secret dread!"
For a few seconds he was silent. Then he tossed his cigar away with a gesture of impatience.
"Time does not admit of argument. I have merely to apologise for bringing you down here to a fruitless appointment, and to wish you good-evening," he said in a tone of mingled annoyance and disappointment, as turning on his heel he walked away.
His words and manner aroused within me a sudden dislike, a curious hatred that I could not describe, yet ere he had gone a dozen paces I cried:
"Stop! I have reconsidered my decision. I must see her, for I promised her a.s.sistance, and am ready to give it in whatever manner she desires."
"You know the conditions," he said, sauntering carelessly back to me, "Do you accept them absolutely?"
"Yes."
"Then swear."
He had drawn from his pocket a Testament, and held it towards me. I hesitated.
"You may be tempted to break your word. You will never violate your oath," he added, in the same slow, deliberate tone in which he had first addressed me. Still I was not prepared for this strange proceeding, and not until he urged me to hasten and declared that my oath was imperative, did I move.
Taking the book, I slowly raised it until it touched my lips.
Next second I regretted my action. I had a vague, indefinable feeling that I had subjected myself to him; that I had foolishly placed myself under his thrall.
Yet, as we walked together up the steep path and gained the Terrace, he chatted gayly upon various topics, and the strange presage of evil that I had first experienced was soon succeeded by lively antic.i.p.ations of seeing once again the beautiful woman I adored.
In Hill Rise, close to that row of glaring new semi-aesthetic houses known as Cardigan Gate, a neat brougham drawn by a magnificent pair of bays was in waiting, and before we entered, the footman carefully drew down the blinds, then saluted as he closed the door.
The interior of the carriage would have been dark had not a tiny glimmering lamp been placed there, and this showed that, in addition to the blinds drawn down, heavy curtains had also been arranged, so that to see outside was impossible. My strange companion was affable, even amusing, but the drive occupied quite an hour and a half, although we travelled at a pretty smart pace.
Presently my companion turned to me, saying: "There is still one small thing more. Before we alight you must allow me to tie my handkerchief across your eyes."
"In order that I may not note the exterior of the house--eh?" I suggested, laughing.
He nodded, and a strange cynical smile played upon his lips.
"Very well," I said. "It is useless, I suppose, to protest."
He did not answer, but folding a silk handkerchief he placed it over my eyes and tied it tightly at the back. Almost at the moment he had completed this the conveyance stopped, the door was opened, and, led by my mysterious companion, I alighted.
Taking his arm, we crossed the pavement and ascended a short flight of steps. There were three. I counted them. I could also hear the wind in some trees, and found myself wondering whether we were in town or country.
A door opened, and we stepped into a hall, which, owing to the echo of my conductor"s voice, I concluded was a s.p.a.cious one, but ere I had time to reflect, the man whose arm I held said:
"Just a moment. You must sign the visitors" book--it is the rule here.
We"ll excuse bad writing as you can"t see," he added with a laugh.
At the same moment I felt a pen placed in my fingers by a man-servant, who guided my hand to the book. Then I hastily scrawled my name.
It was strange, I thought; but the events of the evening were all so extraordinary that there was nothing after all very unusual in signing a visitors" book.
Again he took my arm, leading me up a long flight of stairs, the carpet of which was so thick that our feet fell noiselessly. In the ascent I felt that the bal.u.s.trade was cold and highly polished, like gla.s.s.
Confused and mysterious whisperings sounded about me, and I felt confident that I distinctly heard a woman"s sob quite close to me, while at the same moment a whiff of violets greeted my nostrils. Its fragrance stirred my memory--it was Sybil"s favourite perfume. Suddenly my guide ushered me into a room and took the handkerchief from my eyes.
The apartment was a small study, cozy and well furnished, with a bright fire burning in the grate, and lit only by a green-shaded reading-lamp.
"If you"ll take off your overcoat and wait here a few moments I will bring her to you," he said; adding, "you can talk here alone and undisturbed," and he went out, closing the door after him.
Five eager minutes pa.s.sed while I listened for her footstep, expecting each second to hear her well-known voice; but gradually the atmosphere seemed to become stifling. In my mouth was a sulphurous taste, and the lamp, growing more dim, at last gave a weak flicker and went out.
Rushing to the door, I found, to my astonishment, it was locked!
I dashed to the window and tried to open it, but could not. In despair I beat the door frantically with my fists and shouted. But my m.u.f.fled voice seemed as weak as a child"s. I doubted whether it could be heard beyond the walls.
Flinging myself upon my knees, I bent to examine the small fire, glowing like a blacksmith"s forge, and discovered to my horror that the chimney had been closed, and that the grate was filled with burning charcoal.
Quickly I raked it out, but the red cinders only glowed the brighter, and, even though I dashed the hearthrug upon them, I could not extinguish them.
In desperation I tried to struggle to my feet, but failed. My legs refused to support me; my head throbbed as if my skull would burst.
Then a strange sensation of nausea crept over me; my starting eyes smarted as if acid had been flung into them, my tongue clave to the roof of my parched mouth, my chest seemed held in contraction by a band of iron, as half rising I fell next second, inert and helpless, a sudden darkness obliterating all my senses.
What time elapsed I have no idea. Gradually I struggled back to consciousness, and as I made desperate endeavour to steady my nerves and collect my thoughts, I suddenly became painfully aware of a bright light falling full upon me. My eyes were dazzled by the extraordinary brilliancy. I closed them again, and tried to recollect what had occurred.
"Pull yourself together, my dear fellow. You are all right now, aren"t you?" asked a voice in my ear.
I recognised the tones as those of my strange guide.
"Yes," I answered mechanically. "But Sybil--where is she?"
He made no reply.
I tried to open my eyes, but again the light dazzled me. About me sounded soft sibilations and the frou-frou of silk, while the warm air seemed filled with the sickly perfume of tuberoses. My left hand was grasping the arm of a capacious saddle-bag chair, wherein I was evidently sitting, while in my right I held something, the nature of which I could not at first determine.
My trembling fingers closed upon it more tightly a moment later, and I suddenly recognised that it was the hand of a woman! Again opening my heavy eyes, I strained them until they grew accustomed to the brightness, and was amazed to discover myself sitting in a s.p.a.cious, richly-furnished drawing-room, brilliant with gilt and mirrors, while two men and two women in evening dress were standing around me, anxiety betrayed upon their pale faces. In a chair close beside mine sat a woman, whose hand I was holding.
Springing to my feet, my eyes fell full upon her. Attired in dead white satin, a long veil hid her face, and in her hair and across her corsage were orange blossoms. She was a bride!
Behind her--erect and motionless--was the man who had conducted me there, while at her side stood a grave, grey-haired clergyman, who at that moment was gabbling the concluding portion of the marriage service.
The veil failed to conceal her wondrous beauty; in an instant I recognised her.
It was the woman I adored. A wedding-ring was upon the hand I had held!
"Speak, Sybil!" I cried. "Speak! tell me the reason of this!"
But she answered not. Only the clergyman"s droning voice broke the silence. The hand with the ring upon it lay upon her knees and I caught it up, but next second dropped it, as if I had been stung. Its contact thrilled me!
Divining my intention, the man who had brought me there dashed between us, but ere he could prevent me, I had, with a sudden movement, torn aside the veil.
Horror transfixed me. Her beauty was entrancing, but her blue eyes, wide open in a stony stare, had lost their clearness and were rapidly glazing; her lips, with their true _arc de Cupidon_, were growing cold, and from her cheeks the flush of life had departed, leaving them white as the bridal dress she wore.