Page:Guy Boothby--A Bid for Fortune.djvu/253

Rh "We dined at seven o'clock sharp, and a little after eight I went off to my room to don my disguise; then, bidding the Marquis good-bye much to his disgust, for he was most anxious to accompany us I slipped quietly out of my window, crossed the garden I hoped unobserved and then went down to the harbour side, where the boat I had chartered was waiting for me. A quarter of an hour later Wetherell's carriage drove up, and seeing it I went across and opened the door. My disguise was so perfect that for a moment the old gentleman seemed undecided whether to trust me or not. But my voice, when I spoke, soon reassured him, and then we set to work carrying the bags of spurious money down to the boat. As soon as this was done we stepped in—I seated myself amidships and got out the oars, Mr. Wetherell taking the yolk-lines in the stern. Then, shoving off, we made our way out in the dark harbour. It was a dull cloudy night, with not a sign of a star, and a cold, chill wind swept across the water. So cold was it that before we had gone far I began to wish I had added an overcoat to my other disguises. We hardly spoke, but pulled slowly down towards the island mentioned in the letter. The excitement was intense, and I grew quite nervous as I wondered whether the police boat was pulling up to meet us as we had that morning arranged.

A quarter to ten chimed from some church ashore as we approached within a hundred yards of our destination. Then I rested on my oars and waited. All round us were the lights of bigger boats, but no rowing-boat could I see. About five minutes before the hour I whispered to Wetherell to make ready, and in answer the old gentleman took a matchbox from his pocket. Exactly as the town clocks struck the hour he lit a match;