Argosy, Vol. 1 (December 9, 1882) — page 259: what you’re looking at

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

252 THE ARGOSY, ‘The interview must be short,” he observed briskly, “ there will be men outside counting the minutes till you leave. Every moment of your time will be accounted for to Cavara, depend upon it!” ‘I dare say!’ muttered Cottrell, and then he added more cheerfully: “We four must hold a council of war and try and decide on some concerted plan of action.” ‘“T think I ought to tell Monsieur Henri,” put in Marie, coloring deeply, “that Don Cavara wants me to be his wife; and when,” she added with flash- ing eye, “ I told him that his asking me was an insult, he simply smiled—oh, such a smile !—and told me I would yet change my mind! “Isn't it strange,” she continued, after a pause, “to think that we are living in the nineteenth century, and that all about are cities and towns where people are doing as they please—enjoying their freedom, going to dances and the theater, and for drives in the park, while we are confined in a medieval castle by a half crazy Spanish outlaw, and God only knows what he means to do with us! ” “We won’t wait to see what he means to do with us!” retorted Cottrell, with a cheerfulnes; he was far from feeling. ‘“‘ We shall be gone before he returns, and then we shall laugh at our strange adventures. Jean,” he added, “are you quite sure that Cavara knows who I really am? ”’ “Yes, mons*eur,”’ was the reply, “beyond a doubt. He saw you but once; but his memory is good, and your disguise does not deceive him. He has ordered his men to keep a close watch on you till his return. I found this all out because I am not suspected or spied on.” “Our one chance, then, is to make an attempt to cscape tomorrow night. This evening they would be too watchful.” As it evidently was the whimsical intention of Cavara that Cottrell’s orders should be obeyed as long as they did not interfere with his own plans, the American decided to put Daron on guard at the postern on the following evening, and, to allay all suspicion, Manuel was to be ordered there for that very night. It was arranged that Cottrell and the two women should start out at about eleven o’clock, if the coast were clear, while Daron was to remain and prevent pursuit for some hours ; then he was to try to overtake them somewhere on the way to Bilb. 1, whither they would go, and then remain till Struthers should be informed of their whereabouts and come to the Spanish coast town for them in his yacht. Various little details were arranged, and then Cottrell and Daron bade good night to the countess and left her. Perhaps none of them slept much that night (except Daron, who never let troubles break his rest), but to two at least the hours brought thought, not slumber. CHAPTER XAXlI.—THE LAUGHTER IN THE Woops. TEN o'clock the next evening found Daron on guard at the gate leading to the drawbridge over the cleft in the rock. Luck favored the plotters in that GONG OOO UN ceo