t gives us a chance, if we can but get across the vestibule
before they come up. Quick, Wilton! come, quick!" and she was
leading the way.
Before she got to the door, however, which the Captain had closed
behind him, the tramp of heavy boots was heard upon the stairs, and a
voice calling, "Plessis! Plessis! Where the devil are you? The
whole house seems to be deserted! Why, what in Satan's name is
here? Here's blood all the way down the stairs! By Heaven, it
wouldn't surprise me if the Orangemen had got into the house. We
must take care that there isn't a trap. Give me that lamp,
Cranburne. You had better have your pistols ready, gentlemen. How
can we manage now?--Two of you stay and guard each corridor, while we
go in here."
There seemed now to take place a low-toned conversation amongst them,
and the Lady Helen, with a pale countenance, drew back towards Wilton
and Laura. The Captain, on his part, unbuttoned his coat, and drew
out a pistol from the belt that he wore underneath: but Wilton said,
"Put it up, my good friend, put it up. Do not let us set any example
of violence. Where there are nine or ten against two, it is somewhat
dangerous to begin the affray. We can always have recourse to
resistance at last."
"Oh, not for my sake! not for my sake!" said Lady Laura, in a low
voice. "For Heaven's sake, risk not your life for me!"
"Let us keep this deep window behind us," said Wilton, speaking to
his companion, "for that will give us some advantage, at all events.
Draw a little behind us, dear Lady Laura. We will manage all things
as gently as we can."
"Let me speak to them, Wilton," said the Lady Helen--"from one
circumstance or another, I must know them almost all."
As she spoke, the large heavy latch was lifted, and the door slowly
and cautiously opened.

CHAPTER XXVI
A PAUSE of expectation, even if it be but for a minute, is sometimes
the most painful thing in the world; and the heart of poor Laura at
that moment, while the door was being slowly opened, and all their
eyes were fixed eagerly upon it, felt as if the blood were stayed in
it till it was nearly bursting. Wilton, who saw all that took place
more calmly, judged by the careful opening of the door, that there
was a good deal of timidity in the persons whom it hid from their
view. But when it was at length opened, the sight that it presented
was not well calculated to soothe any one's alarm.
In the doorway itself were three well-armed men, with each his sword
drawn in