, and your blood be upon
your own head."

"Lead on!" said Lady Rookwood, pressing towards the antechamber.

"The door I mean is there," pointing to another part of the room--"that
panel,--"

"Ha! how know you that?"

"No matter; follow."

Luke touched a spring, and the panel flying open, disclosed a dim
recess, into which he entered; and, seizing Lady Rookwood's hand,
dragged her after him.

_CHAPTER XII_

_THE CHAMBER OF DEATH_

It is the body--I have orders given
That here it should be laid.

_De Montfort._

The recess upon which the panel opened had been a small oratory, and,
though entirely disused, still retained its cushions and its crucifix.
There were two other entrances to this place of prayer, the one
communicating with a further bedchamber, the other leading to the
gallery. Through the latter, after closing the aperture, without
relinquishing his grasp, Luke passed.

It was growing rapidly dark, and at the brightest seasons this gloomy
corridor was but imperfectly lighted from narrow, painted, and
wire-protected windows that looked into the old quadrangular courtyard
below; and as they issued from the oratory a dazzling flash of
lightning--a storm having suddenly arisen--momentarily illumined the
whole length of the passage, disclosing the retreating figure of a man,
wrapped in a large sable cloak, at the other extremity of the gallery.
Lady Rookwood uttered an outcry for assistance; but the man, whoever he
might be, disappeared in the instantaneously succeeding gloom, leaving
her in doubt whether or not her situation had been perceived. Luke had
seen this dark figure at the same instant; and, not without
apprehensions lest his plans should be defeated, he griped Lady
Rookwood's arm still more strictly, and placing the muzzle of the pistol
to her breast, hurried her rapidly forwards.

All was now in total obscurity; the countenance of neither could be
perceived as they trod the dark passage; but Luke's unrelaxed grasp
indicated no change in his purposes, nor did the slow, dignified march
of the lady betray any apprehension on her part. Descending a spiral
staircase, which led from the gallery to a lower story, their way now
lay beneath the entrance-hall, a means of communication little used.
Their tread sounded hollowly on the flagged floor; no other sound was
heard. Mounting a staircase, similar to the one they had just