us, northerly breeze was blowing off the lake and roaring
through the branches of the leafless trees, and the look of the sky
threatened rain; yet the wide, white carriage-drive loomed up ghostly
through the darkness, and presently, when the eyes of the watchers grew
accustomed to the gloom, they found that it would be easy for them to
discern a mounted figure on the road at a distance of a hundred yards or
so. They sheltered themselves under the lee of a giant elm, and set
themselves patiently to await in silence the approach of their
unsuspecting prey.

The minutes sped slowly away, until at length it seemed to the two
watchers that they must have been in ambush for a full hour, yet neither
Vasilovich nor any other person had put in an appearance. They began to
compare notes in a low voice, and at length Mildmay determined to run
the risk of striking a match for a moment to ascertain the time. This
he did, von Schalckenberg assisting him to observe such precautions as
should insure the tiny, momentary flame against being seen. Mildmay's
watch declared the hour to be a quarter to six, British time.

"Why, that makes it about ten minutes to eight, Russian time!" murmured
the captain, as he blew out the vesta. "Do you think he has been
detained, Professor? or is it possible that he is no longer residing
here? He may be away on a visit somewhere, you know."

"True, he _may_ be; but I do not believe he is; he is not a sufficiently
sociable man to render it at all likely that he is visiting, either in
Saint Petersburg or elsewhere," answered the professor. "Of course," he
continued, "the man may have been detained, as you suggest; indeed, that
is probably the explanation of his non-appearance. Or he may be
unwell--too unwell to leave his chateau. Those are the only two
alternative explanations I can suggest to account for his
non-appearance."

"Well, what is to be done under the circumstances?" demanded Mildmay.
"Is it any use to wait here any longer, think you?"

"No," answered the professor, "I do not think it is; he is not likely to
pass here now, as he has not done so already. I will go up to the
castle and ascertain his whereabouts."

"All right," returned Mildmay, "I will go with you. It is scarcely safe
for you to go alone. The fellow may--"

"Have no fear on my account, I beg," interrupted von Schalckenberg. "I
assure you it will be quite safe for me to go alone; more safe, indeed,
than were two