The Red Window

weather this low-lying land-if it could be called so-almost disappeared under water, and in summer the poisonous morass exhaled white mists which caused fever and ague. The people who dwelt o

was good enough for them, was the argum

er at one end. Formerly, in the reign of Elizabeth, it had been a fort, and afterwards, falling into decay, had been used by smugglers for the storing of contraband goods. In the reign of George III., the then Lord Conniston being disgusted with life, and anxious to isolate himself from the gay world, in which he had glittered to the detriment of his purse and health, had bought the property and there had lived and died. At that time the family possessed several seats and a town house. But the Georgian Conniston preferred this unhealthy neighborhood, as least likely to attract his former friends. So no one visited him, and he lived and died a recluse. Afterwards the castle was deserted again, the successors of this lordly hermit preferring to live in more h

r looks seemed hardly human. She had the frame of a grenadier and the voice of a drill sergeant. Her face was large and round and pallid, from a long life in the midst of the marshes. A few grey hairs on her upper lip gave her a still more masculine look, and, indeed, the least observant would have taken her for a man in disguise. She wore a frilled cap, which surrounded her face like the rays of a sunflower, and wore

late Mr. Moon, who had been almost a dwarf, had frequently beaten her in spite of her superior inches. However, the old man was dead, and for many a long day Mrs. Moon had lorded it over the

high voice like the midnight wind in a chimney. "He being

"He only came down here for a rest.

her frilled cap portentously, "and the worse things is what he's done

?" asked Conniston, halting on t

" said the giantess; "and but that he had

ck, remembering his caligraphy a

s, to say nothing of your lordship's clothes, he having arrived in tatters like a tramp, which he isn't fr

sharply, for Victoria was a small servant,

g questions as to w

t answer he

k her hard. But only Jerry could manage her, and, bless me! your dear lordship

niston, stopping at the door of the room indicated b

d she, shaking the frilled cap again. "He was a wonderful boy for money and neve

ich she took the report of her grandson's wickedness. "No

e to, and may I not be here to see him dangling at the end of a rope, much as he may deserve it. Jerry's a bad 'un, for sure, and takes after my old

into the castle and don't you let him know that Mr.-Mr. Grant"-D

s. Moon. "But he d

. You hold your tongue and

mly, "me not being strong enough for such a tear

y. "I'm stopping here for the night, Mrs. Moon.

burning things and her pastery being lead f

ny of that

erry drank, he being

seriously. "If you had stifled Jerry in the mud year

ll occupy a place in the Chamber of Horrors in the exhibition me and Moon

domestic Newgate's Calendar, but abrupt

ms of the castle. The furniture was all of black oak, and included a square table, a comfortable sofa which was drawn up close to the fire, and several arm-chairs. Also there was a sideboard and a bookcase well supplied with volumes of works long sin

?" asked Conniston, see

t's only you," he said, looking very pale. "I heard voices and concealed myself behind the curta

nniston, pitying the hag

he is as sharp a

he sofa upon which he had been apparently lying until startled by the sound of voices.

u sure,

discovered I could manage to conceal

ked the fugitive, who

icating with the arm of the sea which runs near the castle, and you could easily escape to foreign parts

ion over Conniston's shoulder. "What a good fellow you are

myself guilty, you

ked Bernard, un

Durham. Yes! and Miss Randolph also. She's a ripping g

re, warming his hand and cas

ould say. And, by Jove! Bernard, I thought you really were dead. You have

wild eyes. At every sound he started and shook. His nerves, and small wonder, were quite unstrung, and even while sitting safely beside his old school chum on the sofa near the fire

ooking anxiously around, and eyeing

some wine. You look so awfully ill, old chap. This will never do. I tell

I was ar

stay here until we sift this matter to the bottom, and then y

Ber

herit the title an

e money

himself. He is now reading the will and Beryl will f

is hands. "And I'm

're a dead man, and will remain one until

ow can

hile Lord Conniston spoke to a sharp, dark, wizen child who entered the room. She was no more than fifteen, but had such an old face and such a womanly appe

d a curtsey, "I want you to bring up some port wine.-

, m'

late of bi

, m'

e retreated, "there is no need for you to

been made by a wooden doll. Indeed, Victoria-a most inappropriate name-might well have been cut out of wood, so stiff and angular and hard did she look. Conniston did not w

ick," said Bernard,

sked Connist

to suspect me, and quite as likely as not thought me me

thought it best to give her one for herself. And if she chatters she will lose

er

f the girl suspected anything she might ask Judas to help her to learn more of the truth than we want known. Both would sell their ne

ered Gore. "If I am arrested

must have out a bottle for her private drinking. I say, Mrs. Moon," said Conniston, as the giant

esing about on holidays. I'd keep her under lock and key on bread and water if I had my way, and if she was

You c

on, withdrawing with a ponderous st

Conniston, whe

Mrs. Moon for a pack of cards to pass the time, and was playing the game myself. She was curious; so

He opened the bottle of port and carefully poured out a full

color came back to his sunken cheeks. The poor fellow was thin with anxiety and want of sleep. When Conniston saw he was better he made h

ng luxuriously. "This is the first moment of

" asked Conniston, l

into the river a

the

he opposite side I took off my coat and hat and left them l

t people do think," s

ouse I found open-it was not yet midnight-and made up a s

ic-house people might have ad

't know if he believed my story. However, for a sovereign he gave me a coat and hat, and asked no questions. I walked across Waterloo Bridge in the fog a

lost myself several times in the fog and twice had a row with a tramp or two. Then

yone ask q

pect the gaiters made people think I was a farmer. I took the train to Pitsea, and

ou do in th

as a horse-dealer buying horses for the war. No one su

oon admit y

to admit me. I produced your letter, and after she read it, which took abo

think of this p

ing back with a weary sigh. "And after all," he add

ow you the way to the vaults, and should there be any

ia know abou

d knows every nook and cranny of the castle. And now, Bernard, we must have a g