Page:Death Comes for the Archbishop.pdf/81

 the door, and stopped with his hand on the latch, throwing over his shoulder a crafty, hateful glance at the bewildered woman.

“Here, you! Come right along, I’ll need ye!”

She took her black shawl from a peg and followed him. Just at the door she turned and caught the eyes of the visitors, who were looking after her in compassion and perplexity. Instantly that stupid face became intense, prophetic, full of awful meaning, With her finger she pointed them away, away!—two quick thrusts into the air. Then, with a look of horror beyond anything language could convey, she threw back her head and drew the edge of her palm quickly across her distended throat—and vanished. The doorway was empty; the two priests stood staring at it, speechless. That flash of electric passion had been so swift, the warning it communicated so vivid and definite, that they were struck dumb.

Father Joseph was the first to find his tongue. “There is no doubt of her meaning. Your pistol is loaded, Jean?”

“Yes, but I neglected to keep it dry. No matter.”

They hurried out of the house. It was still light enough to see the stable through the grey drive of rain, and they went toward it.

“Señor American,” the Bishop called, “will you be good enough to bring out our mules?”