Page:Stanley Weyman--Count Hannibal.djvu/92

80 “You rave, man,” he said. “This is no time for visions.”

“I said naught of visions,” the other answered.

“Then why so sure that we shall escape?”

“I am certified of it,” La Tribe replied. “And more than that, I know that we shall lie here some days. The time has not been revealed to me, but it will be days and a day. Then we shall leave this place unharmed, as we entered it, and, whatever betide others, we shall live.”

Tignonville shrugged his shoulders. “I tell you, you rave, M. la Tribe,” he said petulantly. “At any moment we may be discovered. Even now I hear footsteps.”

“They tracked me well-nigh to this place,” the minister answered placidly.

“The deuce they did!” Tignonville muttered, with irritation. He dared not raise his voice. “I would you had told me that before I joined you, Monsieur, and I had found some safer hiding-place! When we are discovered”

“Then,” the other continued calmly, “you will see.”

“In any case we shall be better farther back,” Tignonville retorted. “Here, we are within an ace of being seen from the lane.” And he began to wriggle himself backwards.

The minister laid his hand on him. “Have a care!” he muttered. “And do not move, but listen. And you will understand. When I reached this place—it would be about five o’clock this morning—breathless, and expecting each minute to be dragged forth to make my confession before men, I despaired as you despair now. Like Elijah under the juniper tree, I said, ‘It is enough, O Lord! Take my soul also, for I am no better than my fellows!’ All the sky was black before my eyes, and my ears were filled with the wailings of the little ones and the lamentations of women. ‘O Lord, it is enough,’ I prayed. ‘Take