let me do it."
"You are a tall man, and I am a small man," replied Plessis--"I have
not the gift of turning keys, Captain. I'll send him down, however;"
and taking a Venice glass from the mantelpiece, he went to the little
vestibule at the top of the stairs, and called to the man who was
sitting in the corridor beyond.
"Here, Harrison," he said--"I wish you'd go down and get the gentleman
a glass of brandy out of the cellar. The door's open. Make haste, and
don't drink any--there's a good fellow."
The tone in which Master Plassis spoke showed that he was no bad
actor when well prompted. The man, who was completely deceived, came
forward without the slightest hesitation, took the glass out of his
hand, and went down stairs.
The moment he had passed, Plessis put in his head, and beckoned with
his finger to the Captain, who ran down after the other in a moment,
leaving the door open, and Plessis listening beyond, with some slight
apprehension. That apprehension was increased, by hearing a word or
two spoken sharply, a struggle, and the sound of glass falling and
being broken. Wilton sprang out of the room to aid his companion; but
at that moment there was the sound of a door banged sharply to, a key
turned, and he met the Captain coming up the stairs laughing aloud.
"By Heaven, the fellow had nearly bolted," he said. "But there he is
now, safe enough, and I dare say will find means to console himself
with Master Plessis's brandy casks. He might have made himself quite
comfortable if he hadn't dropped the glass, like a fool.--Now,
Plessis," he continued, entering the room, "go for the lady as quick
as lightning. Let us lose no time, but make sure of the business
while we can; and I dare say, if you get yourself into any little
scrape soon--as indubitably you will, for you never can expect to die
unhanged--this gentleman will speak a good word for you to those who
can get your neck out of the noose before it is drawn too tight.
Come, make haste, man! or we may all get into trouble."
"I will go," said the Lady Helen, "I had better go. It will alarm her
less, and she has been terrified and agitated too much already, poor
thing."
Thus saying, she left them; but the lady returned alone in a moment
after, saying, with some consternation, that the man had got the key
of the door with him.
"Oh, that is nothing!" exclaimed Plessis, laughing; "I am never
without my passe-partout;" and producing a key attached to a large
ring, from his pocket, he gave it into t