The Steam-Packet: A Tale of the River and the Ocean — page 151: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

110 THE STEAM PACKET, “¢ What—De Renal.again! ”’ he muttered between his teeth. “De Renal—your friend,” said the surgeon emphatically...“ Admit me fora moment—do not hesitate—your lifeisin danger!” _. The priest opened. the door wide, afforded ingress to the niall and then closed the gate carefully. De Renal found himself in the same room with Marie; she was giving the nourishment which flowed from her own sweet bosom to her child, Never had. she seemed so: fair in the eyes of the enthusiastic young man. i mee “You spoke of danger—of my life being in jeopardy?” said the priest, hastily, seemg that his. visitor had now apparently Pees the object of his call. | TEA ‘““Indeed it grieves me to speak it,’’ piace De Renal a leah have heard from authentic sources that the bloodhounds are ae your track, and that you have not a minute to waste in idle’ delay.” “ Thanks—a thousand thanks for this warning, my vouadialie friend!” cried the archdeacon wringing the surgeon’s hand: ‘* Marie, my beloved one! the moment which I haveso much dreaded has come _ at last. Imust fly!” iy forkter _“ And I-will be the companion of your ‘flight! Ur aad decided mother, pressing her child closer to her bosom as she uttered these. words in an imploring and yet decided tone. enbe ee? “No, dearest Marie!” answered the priest: ‘‘ that would only. lead. to our certain detection. The heathens will not molest thee, poor dear; and when once I am safe in England, thou canst follow me.” . Marie was about to make some observation in answer to this pro- posal, when a violent knocking at the gate alarmed them all. But the. priest almost immediately recovered his presence of mind, and, selzing the lamp, bade De Renal and Marie follow him. He led the way through several apartments towards the back of the building, and _ stopped in one which appeared to have been once used as an oratory. hae ae another instant’s sti ogi the archdeacon drew aside a — in ee ee the count himself beineht up the rear, sie behianil the panel peer behind him. He then extinguished the lamp, and bade hia tebtbiniess remain as silent as death itself. Tt, A few minutes elapsed, and the sounds of the tiie of i: praca gates upon their hinges reached them even in that distant retreat. It, was the old nurse who opened the doors: but the archdeacon knew that she could be trusted. In a short time the heavy sounds of boots, the clanking of swords, the rattling of ‘spurs, and the tones of nume- Eomicbooks.co