AGAIN THE LADY
I must think rapidly, and act as quickly. Yet, if what Grant had said was
true, that he had already posted guards on each side the house, then
escape by daylight was practically impossible. From all I could see there
was no concealment close at hand, and while the fellows were without
arms, yet their numbers were sufficient to make any attempt at running
their lines extra hazardous. And I had much at risk, for if taken it
would be as a spy, and not a mere prisoner of war. There was no place for
concealment in the library, but there might be upstairs, in the attic, or
on the roof. The chance was worth the trial, and there could be no better
time for such an experiment than while the three officers were at
breakfast. Whatever servants remained about the house would be busily
employed also, and probably I should have the entire upper portion to
myself. Deciding to make the venture I had my hand on the knob of the
door, when it was opened quietly from without, and I was startled by the
sudden appearance of Peter. Whatever excitement may have prevailed among
the other members of this peculiar household this model servitor remained
with dignity unruffled. He surveyed me calmly, rubbing his bald head with
one hand.
"You will pardon the delay, sir," he said calmly. "But circumstances have
arisen changing the original plans. Will you kindly accompany me?"
"But where, Peter? I don't wish to be seen by these new arrivals."
"Have no fear, sir," condescendingly, and with an authoritative wave of
the hand. "The officers are at table, and will know nothing of our
movements."
I followed meekly enough, and he led the way up the broad stairs to the
second story, turning to the left in the upper hall, and coming to a
pause before a partially opened door. A glimpse within made me deem it a
music room, although I could see merely along one wall.
"You will enter, sir, while I return to the guests below."
With one glance into his perfectly expressionless countenance, half
suspicious of some new trick, I stepped across the threshold. The
curtains were drawn, and the room seemed dark after the sun-glare of the
hall. I advanced a step or two, almost convinced the apartment was
unoccupied, when a voice addressed me.
"Under more favorable conditions, Major Lawrence, it would give me
pleasure to welcome you to the hospitalities of Elmhurst."
I swung about as on a pivot and saw her standing with one hand upon the
high back of a chair, her blue eyes smiling merrily. I felt the hot rush
of blood to my cheeks, the quick throb of pulse, with which I recognized
her. I was so surprised that, for the instant, the words I sought to
utter choked in my throat.
[Illustration: "You have not suspected?" she asked. "You did not know this
was my home?"]
"Nothing was farther from my thoughts," I exclaimed hastily. "All I knew
of your home was that it was situated somewhere in the Jerseys. But wait,
perhaps I begin to understand--the lieutenant who brought me here; his
voice has been echoing in my ears all night in familiarity. He is some
near relative of yours--this Eric?"
"Oh, you have overheard? You know the name through hearing Captain Grant
speak?"
"Yes; I could not very well help doing so. Peter had stationed me in the
library, but there was nothing said between you two to make me suspect
your identity."
"You supposed me to be the lieutenant?"
"You have not suspected?" she asked. "You did not know this was my home?"
"Why should I not? The voice was the same; at least sufficiently similar
to deceive me, and he never addressed you in a way to arouse my
suspicions. Is your brother named Eric?"
"Yes; I told you, did I not, that we are twins? The physical resemblance
between us is very strong; no doubt our voices sound alike also, or would
to a comparative stranger. Will you not be seated, Major? We shall not
have long to converse, and there is much to be said before those
downstairs complete their rather frugal meal--Peter has promised to delay
serving as much as possible, but, as our larder is not extensive, at best
it will not be long. You overheard Captain Grant's threat?"
"To search the house for your brother--yes."
"He will carry it out," quietly, her eyes, no longer smiling, on my face.
"There has never been friendship between those two, and of late my own
relations with Captain Grant have become very unpleasant. I think he is
almost glad of an opportunity to thus exercise some authority over me. He
is the kind of a man who must either rule or ruin. Convinced that Eric is
concealed here, he will search the house as much to spite me as for any
other reason. I should only laugh at him, but for your presence."
"Then your brother is not here?"
"Certainly not; Eric is in no danger--but, Major Lawrence, you are."
The earnestness with which she spoke made my heart leap. Whatever the
girl's political sentiments might be, she was plainly desirous of serving
me, of once again exposing herself in my defence. Yet her words, the
frank expression of her eyes, gave no suggestion of sentiment--she was
but a friend, an ally, performing a woman's part in the war game.
"But I fail to understand--"
"You mean me? Oh, well, you are not the first; and no doubt it is best
so. The less you understand, the better we shall get along, Major; the
only question being, will you obey my orders?"
"Had I inclination otherwise I fear I should find it impossible."
"I hardly know whether that remark be complimentary or not. You might
mean that no other course was left you."
"Which I suspect is true, although if it proved so I should willingly
trust myself to your guidance, because of my faith in you."
"That is much better," her eyes laughing, yet as swiftly sobering again.
"But it is foolish of us to waste time in such silly speeches. There is
too much waiting attention. Fortunately this house is not without its
secrets, for when built by my grandfather this was the frontier."
"But does not Grant know?" I asked soberly. "I understood he played here
as a boy, and there is not much a lad fails to learn."
"He is not without knowledge, surely, but here is something he never
discovered. I would never have trusted him with the secret, and yet, as
short a time as I have known you, I have no hesitancy. Isn't that a frank
confession, sir?"
"One I mean you shall never regret."
"I am sure of that; yet I shall not betray everything even to you. Please
face about with eyes to the front window. Yes, so; now do not look around
until I tell you."
I heard her cross the room, her skirts rustling slightly, and then the
faint clicking of some delicately adjusted mechanism. As this sound
ceased, her voice again spoke.
"Now, Major, the way is opened for a safe retreat. Behold what has been
accomplished by the genii of the lamp."
She was standing at one side of what had been the fireplace, but now the
entire lower portion of the great chimney had been swung aside, revealing
an opening amply large enough for the entrance of a man. I took one step
forward to where I could perceive the beginning of a narrow winding stair
leading down into intense blackness. Then I glanced aside into her eyes.
"The concealment was perfect," I exclaimed in admiration. "Where does the
staircase lead?"
"To a very comfortable room underground. It had not been used for a
generation until this war began. Eric and I learned of its existence by
accident, while rummaging over some of our grandfather's old papers. I
was about sixteen then, and shall never forget our first exploration. We
found nothing down there then but a rough bunk, an old lanthorn, and the
leathern scabbard of a sword. But since then Eric has been compelled to
hide there twice to escape capture, and we have made the room below more
comfortable. You will be obliged to grope your way down the stairs, but
at the bottom will discover flint and steel, and a lantern with ample
supply of candles. Peter will bring you food, if you need remain there
for long!"
"Peter! Then he is in the secret?"
"Peter is in all secrets," she confessed. "From him nothing is hid, at
least so far as may concern the Mortimer family. You have yet to learn
the deep subtlety of Peter, Major Lawrence. He sees all things, retains
all things, and reveals nothing."
"A discovery already made."
"No, barely glimpsed; no short acquaintance such as yours has been could
ever serve to reveal the character of Peter. Since babyhood he has been
my monitor and guide, and still he remains to me a silent mystery."
"An old servant?"
"Yes, born to the position, his father serving before him. There is no
doubt in my mind but what he knew of this secret passage before Eric and
I were born. Not that he has ever confessed as much, yet I am convinced
our discovery of it brought no surprise to Peter. What do you suppose his
age to be?"
My mind reverted to that expressionless face without a wrinkle in it, to
that totally bald head, and my answer was the merest guess.
"Oh, possibly fifty."
"I told you you were far from knowing Peter," she laughed. "He is
seventy-two, and, would you believe it, until this war came, was never
ten miles from this spot."
"And since?" recalling the events of the night before.
"He has made it his duty to attend me; he has become my shadow. From the
humdrum experience of a respectable house servant he has become the very
spirit of reckless adventure--he has journeyed to New York, to Trenton,
to Philadelphia, to--"
"Night riding with Hessian foragers," I broke in, "disguised in a
Ranger's uniform."
"Well, yes," she dimpled quietly, "even that."
I waited for something more, some explanation of what all this concealed.
"You trust me with so much," I ventured, when she continued silent, "it
would seem as if you might tell me even more."
"I cannot perceive whereby any further confession would serve you. Yet I
have not refused to answer any question, surely. It is hardly safe for us
to remain here so long, and yet if there be something you wish to ask--"
"You could scarcely expect me to be entirely without curiosity. I have
been captured on the highway, brought here a prisoner, and held under
guard all night. I supposed myself in British hands, only to discover
that you have again intervened to save me. Surely there must be a key to
all this mystery. If, as I suspect, it was your brother, Eric, who led
the attack on me, having mistaken me for another, then what was his
purpose? And what has become of Eric?"
She wrinkled her brows in perplexity, her hands nervously clasping the
back of a chair.
"It is like being cross-examined by a lawyer. Perhaps if the secret was
all my own I might freely confide it to you. I do not promise I would,
but I might. As it is, I do not yet know you quite well enough. I believe
you to be Major Lawrence, that you are all you represent yourself, but I
am pledged to silence, and the lives of others depend upon my keeping
faith. You cannot urge me to do what I deem wrong?"
"No; I shall always believe in you."
"I thank you for that," and her hand was extended frankly. "I would
reveal one of the mysteries of last night if I was not fearful it might
cost me your respect."
"How could that be possible?"
"Because it might appear to you that I had been unwomanly. My own
conscience is clear, for my purpose exonerates me, but this you might
fail to understand unless I made fuller explanation than is now possible.
I have a duty which cannot be betrayed."
I gazed into her eyes, her hand still in mine, conscious that her cheeks
were flushing. It was impossible for me to conceive of her performing an
unwomanly action.
"I prefer to ask nothing," I said frankly, "although I should never
misconstrue anything you might care to say."
"I think you suspect already, and I should far rather tell you the truth
myself than have you learn it in some other way. The lieutenant of Light
Dragoons who attacked you last night was not my brother."
"Was not Eric? And yet you knew him?"
"Very well, indeed," her eyes falling, "because it was myself."