These were the haunts, too, of poachers and deer-stalkers, who made use of such hiding-places to screen their nocturnal depredations.  He might be gotten unknowingly into one of their retreats, and he knew the character of such men too well to venture farther into their privy places without leave.  But it was strange this ugly and insane thing should be kept here.  Its outlandish accent, too, as far as Gregory could distinguish, was still more unaccountable; and that his young mistress should hold any intercourse with such a misshapen mockery of the human form was a mystery only to be resolved by a woman!  After all, his first conjecture might be true, and this delicate sprite the ministering demon to some magician who brooded over the treasure.

He grew more timorous in the dark.  His own breathing startled him.  He revolved a thousand plans of escape; but how was it possible to climb to the pit-mouth without help, and in total darkness?  The door, too, would probably defy his attempts to remove it.  Suspense was not to be endured.  He would have been glad to see the ugly dwarf again, rather than remain in his present evil case.

He now tried to grope out his way, from that sort of undefinable feeling which leads a person to identify change of place with improvement in condition.

Ere he had gone many yards from the spot, however, he saw a light, and presently the flaming torch was visible, with the ugly form he desired.

“Sir messenger, allez.  Make scrape and go backward.  Bah!  What for make lady chuse ugly lout as thee for page?—­not know, not inquire.  Up, this way; now mind the steps.  Bah, not that, fool!”

With some difficulty Gregory was initiated into the mysteries of the ascent.  The torch was brandished high above his head, and with fear and trepidation he prepared to obey.

“But, master sooty-paws, my mistress will be a-wanting of some token; some reply.  Hast thou no memory of her sweet favours?”

“Begone, slave-dog, begone!  Say we be snug as the fox that will keep in the hole when dogs go hunt.  We not go up again till lady sends leave.  Go to!”

Gregory mounted with great difficulty.  When he approached the mouth, looking upward for some mode of exit, he saw the trap-door slowly open, and he leapt forth into the free air; the cool atmosphere and the quiet moonlight again upon his path.  He soon cleared the bushes, and once more was on his way to the house.  Elizabeth met him at the gate.

“What ho, sirrah!” said she, “hast thou been loitering with my message?  I left my chamber to look out for thee.  What answer?  Quick.”

“Why, forsooth, ’tis not easy to say, methinks, for such jabber is hard to interpret.  By my lady’s leave, I think”—­

Here he paused; but Elizabeth was impatient for the expected reply.  “Softly, softly, mistress.  I but thought your worship were ill bestowed on yonder ugly image.”