But her eyes were
ringed, and slightly filmed, as if with recent tears.
It was perhaps this circumstance that softened his voice, still harsh
with command, as he said,--
"I suppose you knew those two men?"
"Yes."
"And that I have put it out of their power to help you?"
"I do."
There was something so strangely submissive in her voice that he again
looked suspiciously at her. But he was shocked to see that she was quite
pale now, and that the fire had gone out of her dark eyes.
"Then I may tell you what is my plan to save you. But, first, you must
find this mulatto woman who has acted as your double."
"She is here."
"Here?"
"Yes."
"How do you know it?" he asked, in quick suspicion.
"She was not to leave this place until she knew I was safe within our
lines. I have some friends who are faithful to me." After a pause she
added, "She has been here already."
He looked at her, startled. "Impossible--I"--
"You locked the door. Yes! but she has a second key. And even if she had
not, there is another entrance from that closet. You do not know this
house: you have been here two weeks; I spent two years of my life, as a
girl, in this room."
An indescribable sensation came over him; he remembered how he had felt
when he first occupied it; this was followed by a keen sense of shame
on reflecting that he had been, ever since, but a helpless puppet in the
power of his enemies, and that she could have escaped if she would, even
now.
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