Fromwhereweweregrouped，amidthegreattree—trunksontheverybrowofthecliff，wecould，whenoureyeswereaccustomedtotheshadow，seethemquitewell。Ingreathaste，andhalfdragging，halfcarryingtheVoivodin，theycrossedtheopenspaceandtookrefugeinalittlegrassyalcovesurrounded，saveforitstortuousentrance，byundergrowth。Fromthevalleylevelitwasmanifestlyimpossibletoseethem，thoughwefromouraltitudecouldseeoverthestuntedundergrowth。Whenwithintheglade，theytooktheirhandsfromher。
She，shudderinginstinctively，withdrewtoaremotecornerofthedell。
Andthen，oh，shameontheirmanhood！——Turksandheathensthoughtheywere——wecouldseethattheyhadsubmittedhertotheindignityofgaggingherandbindingherhands！
OurVoivodinTeutabound！Tooneandallofusitwaslikelashingusacrosstheface。IheardtheGospodar’steethgrindagain。Butoncemoreheschooledhimselftocalmnesserehesaid：
\"Itis，perhaps，aswell，greatthoughtheindignitybe。Theyareseekingtheirowndoom，whichiscomingquickly……Moreover，theyarethwartingtheirownbaseplans。Nowthatsheisboundtheywilltrusttotheirbinding，sothattheywilldelaytheirmurderousalternativetotheverylastmoment。Suchisourchanceofrescuingheralive！\"
Forafewmomentshestoodasstillasastone，asthoughrevolvingsomethinginhismindwhilsthewatched。Icouldseethatsomegrimresolutionwasforminginhismind，forhiseyesrangedtothetopofthetreesabovecliff，anddownagain，veryslowlythistime，asthoughmeasuringandstudyingthedetailofwhatwasinfrontofhim。
Thenhespoke：
\"Theyareinhopesthattheotherpursuingpartymaynotcomeacrossthem。Toknowthat，theyarewaiting。Ifthoseothersdonotcomeupthevalley，theywillproceedontheirway。Theywillreturnupthepaththewaytheycame。Therewecanwaitthem，chargeintothemiddleofthemwhensheisopposite，andcutdownthosearoundher。
Thentheotherswillopenfire，andweshallberidofthem！
Whilsthewasspeaking，twoofthemenofourparty，whoIknewtobegoodsharpshooters，andwhohadjustbeforelainontheirfacesandhadsteadiedtheirriflestoshoot，rosetotheirfeet。
\"Commandus，Gospodar！\"theysaidsimply，astheystoodtoattention。
\"Shallwegototheheadoftheravineroadandtheretakehiding？\"
Hethoughtforperhapsaminute，whilstweallstoodassilentasimages。Icouldhearourheartsbeating。Thenhesaid：
\"No，notyet。Thereistimeforthatyet。Theywillnot——cannotstirormakeplansinanywaytilltheyknowwhethertheotherpartyiscomingtowardsthemornot。Fromourheightherewecanseewhatcoursetheothersaretakinglongbeforethosevillainsdo。Thenwecanmakeourplansandbereadyintime。
Wewaitedmanyminutes，butcouldseenofurthersignstheotherpursuingparty。Thesehadevidentlyadoptedgreatercautionintheirmovementsastheycameclosertowheretheyexpectedtofindtheenemy。Themaraudersbegantogrowanxious。Evenatourdistancewecouldgatherasmuchfromtheirattitudeandmovements。
Presently，whenthesuspenseoftheirignorancegrewtoomuchforthem，theydrewtotheentranceoftheglade，whichwasthefarthestplacetowhich，withoutexposingthemselvestoanyonewhomightcometothevalley，theycouldwithdrawfromtheircaptive。Heretheyconsultedtogether。Wecouldfollowfromtheirgestureswhattheyweresaying，forastheydidnotwishtheirprisonertohear，theirgesticulationwasenlighteningtousastoeachother。Ourpeople，likeallmountaineers，havegoodeyes，andtheGospodarishimselfaneagleinthisasinotherways。Threemenstoodbackfromtherest。
Theystackedtheirriflessothattheycouldseizethemeasily。Thentheydrewtheirscimitars，andstoodready，asthoughonguard。
Thesewereevidentlytheappointedmurderers。Welltheyknewtheirwork；forthoughtheystoodinadesertplacewithnonewithinlongdistanceexceptthepursuingparty，ofwhoseapproachtheywouldhavegoodnotice，theystoodsoclosetotheirprisonerthatnomarksmanintheworld——noworthateverhadbeen；notWilliamTellhimself——
couldhaveharmedanyofthemwithoutatleastendangeringher。TwoofthemturnedtheVoivodinroundsothatherfacewastowardstheprecipice——inwhichpositionshecouldnotseewhatwasgoingon——
whilsthewhowasevidentlyleaderofthegangexplained，ingesture，thattheothersweregoingtospyuponthepursuingparty。Whentheyhadlocatedthemhe，oroneofhismen，wouldcomeoutoftheopeningofthewoodwhereintheyhadhadevidenceofthem，andholduphishand。
Thatwastobethesignalforthecuttingofthevictim’sthroat——
suchbeingthechosenmethod（villainousevenforheathenmurderers）
ofherdeath。Therewasnotoneofourmenwhodidnotgrindhisteethwhenwewitnessedthegrimaction，onlytooexpressive，oftheTurkashedrewhisrighthand，clenchedasthoughheheldayataghaninit，acrosshisthroat。
Attheopeningofthegladeallthespyingpartyhaltedwhilsttheleaderappointedtoeachhisplaceofentryofthewood，thefrontofwhichextendedinanalmoststraightacrossthevalleyfromclifftocliff。
Themen，stoopinglowwhenintheopen，andtakinginstantadvantageofeverylittleobstacleontheground，seemedtofadelikespectreswithincredibleswiftnessacrossthelevelmead，andwereswallowedupinthewood。
WhentheyhaddisappearedtheGospodarRupertrevealedtousthedetailsoftheplanofactionwhichhehadrevolvinginhismind。Hemotionedustofollowhim：wethreadedawaybetweenthetree—
trunks，keepingallthewhileontheveryedgeofthecliff，sothatthespacebelowwasallvisibletous。Whenwehadgotroundthecurvesufficientlytoseethewholeofthewoodonthevalleylevel，withoutlosingsightoftheVoivodinandherappointedassassins，wehaltedunderhisdirection。Therewasanaddedadvantageofthispointovertheother，forwecouldseedirectlytherisingofthehill—road，upwhichfarthersideranthecontinuationofthemountainpathwhichthemaraudershadfollowed。Itwassomewhereonthatpaththattheotherpursuingpartyhadhopedtointerceptthefugitives。
TheGospodarspokequickly，thoughinavoiceofcommandwhichtruesoldierslovetohear：
\"Brothers，thetimehascomewhenwecanstrikeablowforTeutaandtheLand。Doyoutwo，marksmen，takepositionherefacingthewood。\"
Thetwomenherelaydownandgottheirriflesready。\"Dividethefrontageofthewoodbetweenyou；arrangebetweenyourselvesthelimitsofyourpositions。Theveryinstantoneofthemaraudersappears，coverhim；drophimbeforeheemergesfromthewood。Eventhenstillwatchandtreatsimilarlywhoeverelsemaytakehisplace。
Dothisiftheycomesinglytillnotamanisleft。Remember，brothers，thatbraveheartsalonewillnotsufficeatthisgrimcrisis。InthishourthebestsafetyoftheVoivodinisinthecalmspiritandthesteadyeye！\"Thenheturnedtotherestofus，andspoketome：
\"ArchimandriteofPlazac，youwhoareinterpretertoGodoftheprayersofsomanysouls，myownhourhascome。IfIdonotreturn，conveymylovetomyAuntJanet——MissMacKelpie，atVissarion。ThereisbutonethinglefttousifwewishtosavetheVoivodin。Doyou，whenthetimecomes，takethesemenandjointhewatcheratthetopoftheravineroad。Whentheshotsarefired，doyououthandjar，andrushtheravineandacrossthevalley。Brothers，youmaybeintimetoavengetheVoivodin，ifyoucannotsaveher。Formetheremustbeaquickerway，andtoitIgo。Asthereisnot，andwillnotbe，timetotraversethepath，Imusttakeaquickerway。Naturefindsmeapaththatmanhasmadeitnecessaryformetotravel。Seethatgiantbeech—treethattowersabovethegladewheretheVoivodinisheld？Thereismypath！Whenyoufromherehavemarkedthereturnofthespies，givemeasignalwithyourhat——donotuseahandkerchief，asothersmightseeitswhite，andtakewarning。Thenrushthatravine。Ishalltakethatasthesignalformydescentbytheleafyroad。IfIcandonaughtelse，Icancrushthemurdererswithmyfallingweight，evenifIhavetokillhertoo。Atleastweshalldietogether——andfree。LayustogetherinthetombatSt。
Sava’s。Farewell，ifitbethelast！\"
Hethrewdownthescabbardinwhichhecarriedhishandjar，adjustedthenakedweaponinhisbeltbehindhisback，andwasgone！
Wewhowerenotwatchingthewoodkeptoureyesfixedonthegreatbeech—tree，andwithnewinterestnoticedthelongtrailingbrancheswhichhunglow，andswayedeveninthegentlebreeze。Forafewminutes，whichseemedamazinglylong，wesawnosignofhim。Then，highupononeofthegreatbrancheswhichstoodclearofobscuringleaves，wesawsomethingcrawlingflatagainstthebark。Hewaswelloutonthebranch，hangingfarovertheprecipice。Hewaslookingoveratus，andIwavedmyhandsothatheshouldknowwesawhim。
Hewascladingreen——hisusualforestdress——sothattherewasnotanylikelihoodofanyothereyesnoticinghim。Itookoffmyhat，andhelditreadytosignalwithwhenthetimeshouldcome。I
glanceddownatthegladeandsawtheVoivodinstanding，stillsafe，withherguardssoclosetoherastotouch。ThenI，too，fixedmyeyesonthewood。
Suddenlythemanstandingbesidemeseizedmyarmandpointed。I
couldjustseethroughthetrees，whichwerelowerthanelsewhereinthefrontofthewood，aTurkmovingstealthily；soIwavedmyhat。
Atthesametimearifleunderneathmecracked。Asecondortwolaterthespypitchedforwardonhisfaceandlaystill。Atthesameinstantmyeyessoughtthebeech—tree，andIsawtheclose—lyingfigureraiseitselfandslideforwardtoajointofthebranch。ThentheGospodar，asherose，hurledhimselfforwardamidthemassofthetrailingbranches。Hedroppedlikeastone，andmyheartsank。
Butaninstantlaterheseemedinpoise。Hehadclutchedthethin，trailingbranchesashefell；andashesankanumberofleaveswhichhismotionhadtornofffloatedoutroundhim。
Againtheriflebelowmecracked，andthenagain，andagain，andagain。Themaraudershadtakenwarning，andwerecomingoutinmass。
Butmyowneyeswerefixedonthetree。AlmostasathunderboltfallsfellthegiantbodyoftheGospodar，hissizelostintheimmensityofhissurroundings。Hefellinaseriesofjerks，ashekeptclutchingthetrailingbeech—brancheswhilsttheylasted，andthenotherlesserverduregrowingoutfromthefissuresintherockafterthelengtheningbrancheshadwithalltheirelasticityreachedtheirlastpoint。
Atlength——forthoughthisalltookplaceinaveryfewsecondsthegravityofthecrisisprolongedthemimmeasurably——therecamealargespaceofrocksomethreetimeshisownlength。Hedidnotpause，butswunghimselftooneside，sothatheshouldfallclosetotheVoivodinandherguards。Thesemendidnotseemtonotice，fortheirattentionwasfixedonthewoodwhencetheyexpectedtheirmessengertosignal。Buttheyraisedtheiryataghansinreadiness。Theshotshadalarmedthem；andtheymeanttodothemurdernow——messengerornomessengerButthoughthemendidnotseethedangerfromabove，theVoivodindid。Sheraisedhereyesquicklyatthefirstsound，andevenfromwherewewere，beforewebegantoruntowardstheravinepath，I
couldseethetriumphantlookinhergloriouseyeswhensherecognizedtheidentityofthemanwhowasseeminglycomingstraightdownfromHeavenitselftohelpher——as，indeed，she，andwetoo，canverywellimaginethathedid；forifeverheavenhadahandinarescueonearth，itwasnow。
EvenduringthelastdropfromtherockyfoliagetheGospodarkepthishead。Ashefellhepulledhishandjarfree，andalmostashewasfallingitssweeptookofftheheadofoneoftheassassins。Ashetouchedgroundhestumbledforaninstant，butitwastowardshisenemies。Twicewithlightningrapiditythehandjarswepttheair，andateachsweepaheadrolledonthesward。
TheVoivodinhelduphertiedhands。Againthehandjarflashed，thistimedownwards，andtheladywasfree。Withoutaninstant’spausetheGospodartoreoffthegag，andwithhisleftarmroundherandhandjarinrighthand，stoodfacetowardhislivingfoes。TheVoivodinstoopedsuddenly，andthen，raisingtheyataghanwhichhadfallenfromthehandofoneofthedeadmarauders，stoodarmedbesidehim。
Therifleswerenowcrackingfast，asthemarauders——thosethatwereleftofthem——camerushingoutintotheopen。Butwellthemarksmenknewtheirwork。WelltheyboreinmindtheGospodar’scommandregardingcalmness。Theykeptpickingofftheforemostmenonly，sothattheonwardrushneverseemedtogetmoreforward。
Aswerusheddowntheravinewecouldseeclearlyallbeforeus。Butnow，justaswewerebeginningtofearlestsomemischancemightallowsomeofthemtoreachtheglade，therewasanothercauseofsurprise——ofrejoicing。
Fromthefaceofthewoodseemedtoburstallatonceabodyofmen，allwearingthenationalcap，soweknewthemasourown。Theywereallarmedwiththehandjaronly，andtheycameliketigers。TheysweptontherushingTurksasthough，foralltheirswiftness，theywerestandingstill——literallywipingthemoutasachildwipesalessonfromitsslate。
Afewsecondslaterthesewerefollowedbyatallfigurewithlonghairandbeardofblackmingledwithgrey。Instinctivelyweall，asdidthoseinthevalley，shoutedwithjoy。ForthiswastheVladikaMiloshPlamenachimself。
Iconfessthat，knowingwhatIknew，Iwasforashortspaceoftimeanxiouslest，intheterrificexcitementinwhichwewerealllapped，someonemightsayordosomethingwhichmightmakefortroublelateron。TheGospodar’ssplendidachievement，whichwasworthyofanyheroofoldromance，hadsetusallonfire。Hehimselfmusthavebeenwroughttoahighpitchofexcitementtodaresuchanact；anditisnotatsuchatimethatdiscretionmustbeexpectedfromanyman。MostofalldidIfeardangerfromthewomanhoodoftheVoivodin。HadInotassistedathermarriage，Imightnothaveunderstoodthenwhatitmusthavebeentohertobesavedfromsuchadoomatsuchatimebysuchaman，whowassomuchtoher，andinsuchaway。ItwouldhavebeenonlynaturalifatsuchamomentofgratitudeandtriumphshehadproclaimedthesecretwhichweoftheCounciloftheNationandherfather’sCommissionershadsoreligiouslykept。ButnoneofusknewtheneithertheVoivodinortheGospodarRupertaswedonow。Itwaswellthattheywereastheyare，forthejealousyandsuspicionofourmountaineersmight，evenatsuchamoment，andevenwhilsttheythrobbedatsuchadeed，havesomanifestedthemselvesastohaveleftalegacyofdistrust。TheVladikaandI，whoofall（savethetwoimmediatelyconcerned）aloneknew，lookedateachotherapprehensively。ButatthatinstanttheVoivodin，withaswiftglanceatherhusband，laidafingeronherlip；andhe，withquickunderstanding，gaveassurancebyasimilarsign。Thenshesankbeforehimononeknee，and，raisinghishandtoherlips，kissedit，andspoke：
\"GospodarRupert，Ioweyouallthatawomanmayowe，excepttoGod。
Youhavegivenmelifeandhonour！Icannotthankyouadequatelyforwhatyouhavedone；myfatherwilltrytodosowhenhereturns。ButIamrightsurethatthemenoftheBlueMountains，whosovaluehonour，andfreedom，andliberty，andbravery，willholdyouintheirheartsforever！\"
Thiswassosweetlyspoken，withlipsthattrembledandeyesthatswamintears，sotrulywomanlyandsoinaccordwiththecustomofournationregardingthereverencethatwomenowetomen，thattheheartsofourmountaineersweretouchedtothequick。Theirnoblesimplicityfoundexpressionintears。ButifthegallantGospodarcouldhaveforamomentthoughtthatsotoweepwasunmanly，hiserrorwouldhavehadinstantcorrection。WhentheVoivodinhadrisentoherfeet，whichshedidwithqueenlydignity，themenaroundclosedinontheGospodarlikeawaveofthesea，andinasecondheldhimabovetheirheads，tossingontheirliftedhandsasifonstormybreakers。ItwasasthoughtheoldVikingsofwhomwehaveheard，andwhosebloodflowsinRupert’sveins，werechoosingachiefinoldfashion。IwasmyselfgladthatthemenweresotakenupwiththeGospodarthattheydidnotseethegloryofthemomentintheVoivodin’sstarryeyes；forelsetheymighthaveguessedthesecret。
IknewfromtheVladika’slookthathesharedmyownsatisfaction，evenashehadsharedmyanxiety。
AstheGospodarRupertwastossedhighontheliftedhandsofthemountaineers，theirshoutsrosetosuchasuddenvolumethataroundus，asfarasIcouldsee，thefrightenedbirdsrosefromtheforest，andtheirnoisyalarmswelledthetumult。
TheGospodar，everthoughtfulforothers，wasthefirsttocalmhimself。
\"Come，brothers，\"hesaid，\"letusgainthehilltop，wherewecansignaltotheCastle。ItisrightthatthewholenationshouldshareinthegladtidingsthattheVoivodinTeutaofVissarionisfree。
Butbeforewego，letusremovethearmsandclothingofthesecarrionmarauders。Wemayhaveuseforthemlateron。\"
Themountaineerssethimdown，gentlyenough。Andhe，takingtheVoivodinbythehand，andcallingtheVladikaandmyselfclosetothem，ledthewayuptheravinepathwhichthemaraudershaddescended，andthencethroughtheforesttothetopofthehillthatdominatedthevalley。Herewecould，fromanopeningamongstthetrees，catchaglimpsefaroffofthebattlementsofVissarion。
ForthwiththeGospodarsignalled；andonthemomentareplyoftheirawaitingwasgiven。ThentheGospodarsignalledthegladnews。Itwasreceivedwithmanifestrejoicing。Wecouldnothearanysoundsofaraway，butwecouldseethemovementofliftedfacesandwavinghands，andknewthatitwaswell。Butaninstantaftercameacalmsodreadthatweknewbeforethesemaphorehadbeguntoworkthattherewasbadnewsinstoreforus。Whenthenewsdidcome，abitterwailingaroseamongstus；forthenewsthatwassignalledran：
\"TheVoivodehasbeencapturedbytheTurksonhisreturn，andisheldbythematIlsin。\"
Inaninstantthetemperofthemountaineerschanged。Itwasasthoughbyaflashsummerhadchangedtowinter，asthoughtheyellowgloryofthestandingcornhadbeenobliteratedbythedrearywasteofsnow。Nay，more：itwasaswhenonebeholdsthetrackofthewhirlwindwhenthegiantsoftheforestarelevelledwiththesward。
Forafewsecondstherewassilence；andthen，withanangryroar，aswhenGodspeaksinthethunder，camethefiercedeterminationofthemenoftheBlueMountains：
\"ToIlsin！ToIlsin！\"andastampedeinthedirectionofthesouthbegan。For，IllustriousLady，you，perhaps，whohavebeenforsoshortatimeatVissarion，maynotknowthatattheextremesouthernpointoftheLandoftheBlueMountainsliesthelittleportofIlsin，whichlongagowewrestedfromtheTurk。
Thestampedewascheckedbythecommand，\"Halt！\"spokeninathunderousvoicebytheGospodar。Instinctivelyallstopped。TheGospodarRupertspokeagain：
\"Hadwenotbetterknowalittlemorebeforewestartonourjourney？
Ishallgetbysemaphorewhatdetailsareknown。Doyouallproceedinsilenceandasswiftlyaspossible。TheVladikaandIwillwaitheretillwehavereceivedthenewsandhavesentsomeinstructions，whenweshallfollow，and，ifwecan，overtakeyou。Onething：beabsolutelysilentonwhathasbeen。Besecretofeverydetail——evenastotherescueoftheVoivodin——exceptwhatIsend。\"
Withoutaword——thusshowingimmeasurabletrust——thewholebody——notaverylargeone，itistrue——movedon，andtheGospodarbegansignalling。AsIwasmyselfexpertinthecode，Ididnotrequireanyexplanation，butfollowedquestionandansweroneitherside。
ThefirstwordstheGospodarRupertsignalledwere：
\"Silence，absoluteandprofound，astoeverythingwhichhasbeen。\"
ThenheaskedfordetailsofthecaptureoftheVoivode。Theanswerran：
\"HewasfollowedfromFlushing，andhisenemiesadvisedbythespiesallalongtheroute。AtRagusaquiteanumberofstrangers——
travellersseemingly——wentonboardthepacket。Whenhegotout，thestrangersdebarkedtoo，andevidentlyfollowedhim，though，asyet，wehavenodetails。HedisappearedatIlsinfromtheHotelReo，whitherhehadgone。Allpossiblestepsarebeingtakentotracehismovements，andstrictestsilenceandsecrecyareobserved。\"
Hisanswerwas：
\"Good！Keepsilentandsecret。Amhurryingback。SignalrequesttoArchbishopandallmembersofNationalCounciltocometoGadaarwithallspeed。Theretheyachtwillmeethim。TellRooketakeyachtallspeedtoGadaar；theremeetArchbishopandCouncil——givehimlistofnames——andreturnfullspeed。Havereadyplentyarms，sixflyingartillery。Twohundredmen，provisionsthreedays。Silence，silence。Alldependsonthat。AlltogoonasusualatCastle，excepttothoseinsecret。\"
Whenthereceiptofhismessagehadbeensignalled，wethree——for，ofcourse，theVoivodinwaswithus；shehadrefusedtoleavetheGospodar——setouthot—footafterourcomrades。ButbythetimewehaddescendedthehillitwasevidentthattheVoivodincouldnotkeepuptheterrificpaceatwhichweweregoing。Shestruggledheroically，butthelongjourneyshehadalreadytaken，andthehardshipandanxietyshehadsuffered，hadtoldonher。TheGospodarstopped，andsaidthatitwouldbebetterthatheshouldpresson——itwas，perhaps，herfather’slife——andsaidhewouldcarryher。
\"No，no！\"sheanswered。\"Goon！IshallfollowwiththeVladika。
AndthenyoucanhavethingsreadytogetonsoonaftertheArchbishopandCouncilarrive。\"Theykissedeachotherafter，onherpart，ashyglanceatme；andhewentonthetrackofourcomradesatagreatpace。Icouldseehimshortlyaftercatchthemup，——thoughthey，too，weregoingfast。Forafewminutestheyrantogether，hespeaking——Icouldnoteitfromthewaytheykeptturningtheirheadstowardshim。Thenhebrokeawayfromthemhurriedly。Hewentlikeastagbreakingcovert，andwassoonoutofsight。Theyhaltedamomentortwo。Thensomefewranon，andalltherestcamebacktowardsus。Quicklytheyimprovisedalitterwithcordsandbranches，andinsistedthattheVoivodinshoulduseit。Inanincrediblyshorttimewewereunderwayagain，andproceedingwithgreatrapiditytowardsVissarion。Thementookitinturnstohelpwiththelitter；Ihadthehonouroftakingahandintheworkmyself。
AboutathirdofthewayoutfromVissarionanumberofourpeoplemetus。Theywerefresh，andastheycarriedthelitter，wewhowererelievedwerefreeforspeed。SowesoonarrivedattheCastle。
Herewefoundallhumminglikeahiveofbees。Theyacht，whichCaptainRookehadkeptfiredeversincethepursuingpartyundertheGospodarhadleftVissarion，wasalreadyaway，andtearingupthecoastatafearfulrate。Theriflesandammunitionwerestackedonthequay。Thefield—guns，too，wereequipped，andthecasesofammunitionreadytoship。Themen，twohundredofthem，wereparadedinfullkit，readytostartatamoment’snotice。Theprovisionforthreedayswasallreadytoputaboard，andbarrelsoffreshwatertotrundleaboardwhentheyachtshouldreturn。Atoneendofthequay，readytoliftonboard，stoodalsotheGospodar’saeroplane，fullyequipped，andready，ifneedwere，forimmediateflight。
IwasgladtoseethattheVoivodinseemednonetheworseforherterribleexperience。Shestillworehershroud；butnooneseemedtonoticeitasanythingstrange。Thewhisperhadevidentlygoneroundofwhathadbeen。Butdiscretionruledtheday。SheandtheGospodarmetastwowhohadservedandsufferedincommon；butIwasgladtonoticethatbothkeptthemselvesundersuchcontrolthatnoneofthosenotalreadyinthesecretevensuspectedthattherewasanylovebetweenthem，letalonemarriage。
WeallwaitedwithwhatpatiencewecouldtillwordwassignalledfromtheCastletowerthattheyachthadappearedoverthenorthernhorizon，andwascomingdownfast，keepinginshoreasshecame。