“My lord!”

Hawbury started.

“What’s this?” he murmured.

“A friend,” said Ethel.

At this Hawbury became wide awake.

“Who are you?” he whispered, in a trembling voice.  “For God’s sake—­oh, for God’s sake, speak again! tell me!”

“Harry,” said Ethel.

Hawbury recognized the voice at once.

A slight cry escaped him, which was instantly suppressed, and then a torrent of whispered words followed.

“Oh, my darling! my darling! my darling!  What is this?  How is this?  Is it a dream?  Oh, am I awake?  Is it you?  Oh, my darling! my darling!  Oh, if my arms were but free!”

Ethel bent over him, and passed her arm around him till she felt the cords that bound him.  She had a sharp knife ready, and with this she cut the cords.  Hawbury raised himself, without waiting for his feet to be freed, and caught Ethel in his freed arms in a silent embrace, and pressed her over and over again to his heart.

Ethel with difficulty extricated herself.

“There’s no time to lose,” said she.  “I came to save you.  Don’t waste another moment; it will be too late.  Oh, do not!  Oh, wait!” she added, as Hawbury made another effort to clasp her in his arms.  “Oh, do what I say, for my sake!”

She felt for his feet, and cut the rest of his bonds.

“What am I to do?” asked Hawbury, clasping her close, as though he was afraid that he would lose her again.

“Escape.”

“Well, come!  I’ll leap with you from the window.”

“You can’t.  The house and all around swarms with brigands.  They watch us all closely.”

“I’ll fight my way through them.”

“Then you’ll be killed, and I’ll die.”

“Well, I’ll do whatever you say.”

“Listen, then.  You must escape alone.”

“What! and leave you?  Never!”

“I’m safe.  I’m disguised, and a priest is with me as my protector.”

“How can you be safe in such a place as this?”

“I am safe.  Do not argue.  There is no time to lose.  The priest brought me here, and will take me away.”

“But there are others here.  I can’t leave them.  Isn’t Miss Fay a prisoner? and another lady?”

“Yes; but the priest and I will be able, I hope, to liberate them.  We have a plan.”

“But can’t I go with you and help you?”

“Oh no! it’s impossible.  You could not.  We are going to take them away in disguise.  We have a dress.  You couldn’t be disguised.”

“And must I go alone?”

“You must.”

“I’ll do it, then.  Tell me what it is.  But oh, my darling! how can I leave you, and in such a place as this?”

“I assure you I am not in the slightest danger.”

“I shall feel terribly anxious.”

“H-s-s-s-h! no more of this.  Listen now.”

“Well?”

Ethel bent lower, and whispered in his ear, in even lower tones than ever, the plan which she had contrived.