Once more I rose, and looking down into the lane, found it deserted; the watcher had vanished.  I also noticed that the casement next to mine had been opened wide, and it was from here, as it seemed, that the weeping proceeded.

After some little hesitation, I knocked softly upon the wall, at which the weeping was checked abruptly, save for an occasional sob, whereupon I presently rapped again.  At this, after a moment or so, I saw a very small, white hand appear at the neighboring window, and next moment was looking into a lovely, flushed face framed in bright hair, with eyes woefully swelled by tears—­but a glance showed me that she was young, and of a rare and gentle beauty.  Before I could speak, she laid her finger upon her lip with a warning gesture.

“Help me—­oh, help me!” she whispered hurriedly; “they have locked me in here, and I dare not go to bed, and—­and—­oh, what shall I do?”

“Locked you in?” I exclaimed.

“Oh, what shall I do?” she sobbed.  “I tell you I am afraid of him—­his hateful, wicked eyes!” Here a tremor seemed to shake her, and she covered her face with her hands.  “To-night, when I found the key gone from the door, and remembered his look as he bade me ‘Good night,’ I thought I should have died.  I waited here, close beside the window—­listening, listening.  Once I thought I heard a step outside my door, and opened the casement to throw myself out; he shall not find me here when he comes.”

“No,” said I, “he shall not find you here when he comes.”

All this she had imparted to me in broken whispers, and with her face still hidden, but, at my words, she peeped at me through her fingers.

“You mean?”

“You must run away.”

“But the door is locked.”

“There remains the window.”

“The window!” she repeated, trembling.

“You would find it easy enough with my help.”

“Quick, then!” she exclaimed, and held out her hand.

“Wait,” said I, and turned back into my room.  Hereupon, having locked the door, I got into my boots, slipped on my coat and knapsack, and, last of all, threw my blackthorn staff out of the window (where I was sure of finding it) and climbed out after it.

The porch I have mentioned, upon which I now stood, sloped steeply down upon two sides, so that I had no little difficulty in maintaining my foothold; on the other hand, it was no great distance from the ground, and I thought that it would be easy enough of descent.

At this moment the lady reappeared at the lattice.

“What is it?” I whispered, struck by the terror in her face.