Page:In the name of a woman (1900).djvu/338

 entered the room, and I clenched my teeth as I stared into the darkness.

There was no long wait. I had barely hidden myself when someone knocked at the door of the room, paused for a reply, knocked again, and entered. Two men came in, the faint light from the hall beyond showing up their uniformed figures.

"This isn't the room; it's all in darkness," said one in a deep bass voice.

"Yes, it is; it's the library," said the other, who evidently knew the house. "Are you there, General? Did you call?"

They both waited for an answer, and, getting none, came further into the room.

"It can't be it," said the first speaker.

"Better get a light," returned the second. "I know it is the right room."

"Well, it's devilish odd." Fumbling in his pocket, he got a match, struck it and held it up, glancing round the room with the faint, flickering light held above his head,

"Here's a lamp," said his companion; "hot too, only just put out. I don't like this. Where can the General be?"

"Better mind what we're doing, Loixoff. The General won't thank us to come shoving our noses into his affairs."

"You heard the scream for help, Captain?"

"Yes, but it wasn't the General's voice," returned the Captain drily. "And he was alone with the woman we were to take prisoner afterwards."

They were lighting the lamp when this little unintentional revelation of old Kolfort's intended treachery to the Countess Bokara was made.