Meantime, Fenella had taken the jailer into the drawing-room and
closed the door behind them.
"Mr. Vondy," she said in a low voice, "you can trust me. Nothing you
may say in this room will ever be repeated. Did not somebody come to
Castle Rushen last night after I left it?"
The old man tried in vain to look into the big moist eyes that were
on him, but at length he dropped his own and said,
"It is no use, miss. There will be no rest on me in the night unless
I tell the truth to somebody. There can be no harm telling it to you
neither--going to be the man's wife soon they're saying. It's truth
enough, miss--somebody did come."
"Was it the Deemster?"
"It was that," said the jailer, and then he told her everything that
had happened.
Fenella's head became giddy and her cheeks blushed crimson. In a
flash she saw what had happened. Victor had deceived the jailer.
Did the old man know it? Lowering her eyes she said,
"You didn't say this when the Governor questioned you--had you a
reason for not doing so?"
"I had. The Deemster made me promise to say nothing."
And then came the other and still more degrading story--the story of
the intimidation Stowell had put upon the jailer to keep his visit
secret.
Fenella felt as if she would sink through the floor in shame, but all
the same she found herself saying,
"You've known the Deemster all his life, haven't you?"
"I have. I was reared on the land," said the jailer, and then,
raising himself to his full height, "I'm a Ballamoar myself, miss."
"Then you will keep the promise you gave him?"
"Trust me for that, miss."
"But if anything should happen to yourself as the consequence of last
night's escape...."
"The father put me in the Castle and the son won't see them fling me
out of it."
"But if he should be overruled by the Governor and unable to help
you...."
"I'll take my chance with him. What's it they're saying?--_the
Ballamoar will out_, miss."
Tears sprang to Fenella's eyes, but her heart beat high.
"Mr. Vondy," she said, "he has not been well lately, and perhaps he
doesn't always know what he is saying. If you should ever come to
think that what he told you was not the truth .... the whole truth, I
mean...."
"Maybe so. I've been thinking as much myself since five this
morning. But that's all as one to me, miss. Tell him _Tommy Vondy
will keep his word_."
The jailer was gone, and Fenella was sitting with her hands over her
eyes when she heard voices in the corridor and footsteps going
towards the porch.
"You're right there, your Excellency" (it was the Attorney-General
who was speaking). "The authority of law in this island has received
a blow, and already the disorderly elements are stirring up strife."
"Who, for instance?"
"Qualtrough of the Keys and the man Baldromma."
"Farrell" (it was the Governor in a stern voice), "quash that
instantly. If there's any rioting send for the soldiers from
Castletown to assist your police."
"I will, your Excellency."
"And listen! Get rid of that blockhead of a jailer. Appoint
somebody in his place and give him authority to employ his own
warders. He'll have his prison full enough presently."
The closing of the outer door rang through the corridor, and at the
next moment the Governor was in the drawing-room.
"Fenella," he said, "do you happen to know if Stowell has a
photograph of young Gell, the Advocate?"
Before she had time to reflect, Fenella answered that he had. It was
taken in America, and stood on the mantelpiece in the library at
Ballamoar.
"But why?"
"Because I want him to bring it with him when he comes on Wednesday
to issue the warrant."
"What warrant?"
"The warrant for the arrest of Gell, for breaking prison and aiding
in the escape of the girl Collister."
"But, father, they are friends--life-long friends."
"What of that? Stowell is Deemster, and you heard the oath he took,
didn't you? 'Without fear or friendship, love or gain.' His duty as
a Judge is to administer Justice, and as long as I am here I'll see
he does it."