CHAPTER VI
THE OLD HOUSE AT PYCROFT
Strange as it may seem, I had during the time I had been with this womanwellnigh forgotten my own desire to enter this old house in the midst ofthe Pycroft woods. My own mission had somehow become dim and unreal. Myinterest in the strange journey of my companion had been so strong thatnothing else seemed of much importance. Nay more, although my plan ofaccompanying her to this place, in order that I might gain knowledge ofthe thing I desired to possess, first helped me in my determination, Ihad never considered the reasons which should induce her to come hither.That she went there at the command of the man at the inn was plainenough, but why he wished her to go I had not even tried to surmise. Thereason for this was, I suppose, owing to the fact that I was carriedaway by the excitement of the hour.
Now that we were within sight of the house, however, everything came tome like a flash of light. I realized that I was not only the companionof the woman, who at the bidding of her husband travelled to this lonelyhouse at midnight, but that I had travelled thither that I might alsodiscover the secret that lay therein. Then another thought struck me.Might not my own quest be associated with hers? Why did the man send herhither? It was for no light matter. Coward although I believed him tobe, a midnight journey such as this must have sufficient reasons.Moreover, how could I help this woman--for this I had determined todo--unless I knew the reasons of her obedience?
My mind, I remember, was strangely clear at the moment. Excited as Iwas, all the issues came to me plainly, and I felt I must form someplan of action without delay. During the whole journey I had asked herno questions concerning the inmates of Pycroft Hall. According to theman in the inn the place was inhabited only by the spirits of the dead.Solomon the Fool, as he had been called, was dead, and the place hadfallen into ruins. Nevertheless some one lived there. The man at the innhad said something about an "old man," from whom the woman was to obtainwhat he desired. What did this mean? Who was this old man? And whatconnection had he with the person to whom Katharine Harcomb hadreferred?
All these things whetted my curiosity, and made me determine topenetrate the secret of the light at the little mullioned window, and tolearn what lay within the grim dark walls. I therefore hurried to thewoman's side.
"Do you realize what you are doing?"
"Ay, I realize."
"But you must not go in there alone."
"Yes, I must go alone."
"No, I shall accompany you."
"You must not. You dare not."
"I must, and I dare," I replied. "I have promised to protect you, and Ishall keep my word."
"Ay, and you promised not to interfere with me," she said. "I have yourword as a gentleman. Besides if you went in there your life would not beworth a groat. You would never leave it alive."
"Why? Is it the home of a band of robbers?"
"It is the home of darkness. Besides, I must go alone--alone I tell you.Things are done behind those walls from which you could not protect me,from which no one can protect me save him who--who will not."
"Then why go?"
"Because I must. Because--but what is that to you? You have accompaniedme hither against my will. You have given me your word of honour not tohinder me in the work I have to do--to try and learn nothing from mewhich I do not wish to tell you."
"I am determined to protect you," I said. "If there is danger there forme, there is danger for you. Nay more. I am a man and can protectmyself, while you are a woman, weak and helpless."
"Weak and helpless!" She turned to me with flashing eyes as I had seenher first. "I am neither weak nor helpless," she said angrily. "I do notcarry a sword, but I have weapons of which you know nothing, MasterRashcliffe. Moreover if you dare to hinder me I will use them, andperhaps against you."
Was this an empty threat, or was there some meaning behind it? Certainlyshe looked as though she might carry her words into effect, and Irealized that although she had been moved to tears during the journey,she was no weak, helpless creature, but a strong woman, capable andself-reliant. It came to me then, moreover, as I have discovered since,that it must have been something beyond the ordinary to cause her toobey the man at the inn in this matter, even although he exercised ahusband's control over her. Still I was not to be daunted by a woman'sanger, and I answered calmly but firmly--
"I will keep to my words," I said; "I will ask you no questions whichyou do not desire to answer; but because I am determined to protect youI will discover the secret of this house."
At this she looked steadily in my face again, and by this time there wassufficient light for her to see my features plainly.
"Then let me tell you this," she said quietly. "If you seek to enterwith me you will place me in danger. You will,--but never mind. If youdesire to befriend me, I beseech you not to enter with me. Even now,even by being with you here, I may be writing my own death warrant. Oh,you do not know, you do not know! If you desire to go there," and hereshe pointed towards the light that still twinkled from the window, "wellgo, although I would beseech you never to seek to penetrate those walls.But do not come with me now. If you do I am undone."
She spoke in a low tone, scarcely above a whisper, but there was suchintensity in her voice, almost amounting to agony, that my heart failedme. Moreover I considered that if I went with her I should not be ableto discover the thing I desired. I reflected that above everything mywork must be done in secret, and to go with her would be out of accordwith the plans I had been formulating.
"Has the person who caused the light to shine there power over you?" Iasked.
"I will answer you nothing. Find out what you will and how you will, butdo not seek to go with me."
I do not think she fully realized what she was saying, so eager was sheto be alone. I could see that she desired at all costs to be rid of me,and at that moment I thought of a plan whereby I could seemingly yieldto her desires and still have my own way.
"But what would you have me do?" I asked.
"You desire to help me?"
"Yes. I have said so. Nay, I am determined to protect you."
She hesitated a second.
"Then stay here until I return. I shall not be long, at least I do notthink so."
"But if you are in danger there?"
"If I am, and I need your help, I will cry out loud enough for you tohear me."
"Then I may enter?"
"Then you may enter--yes, if you can."
There was mockery in her tones, but it was the mockery of despair.
"Very well," I replied quietly, "I will obey."
She looked at me eagerly.
"And you will not interfere with me?"
"No."
"And you will remain here hidden from sight?"
"I will stay outside, hidden from sight, but I shall be near to help incase of need."
She heaved a sigh as I spoke, a sigh with a tremble in it, and I knewshe feared to do the work that lay before her, whatever it might be. Butshe did not hesitate. Walking in the direction of the house, which wasabout a musket shot away, I saw her walk steadily across the open spacethat lay between me and the house, and a little later was lost behindthe dark shrubs that grew close to what I thought looked like theentrance to the building.
I waited in silence, straining every nerve to catch the least approachof sound, and presently heard the sound of voices. After that all becamesilent. The light still shone from the window, which as I have said waspartly hidden by an evergreen tree that grew near. The fever ofdiscovery was now hot upon me. I remembered the woman's words, "Find outwhat you can, and how you will, but do not seek to go with me," and Idetermined to act upon them. Evidently she believed that I coulddiscover nothing from the outside, but I believed otherwise. It was thisbelief which caused me to yield to her wishes and remain outside. Nosooner, therefore, did the sound of voices cease than I went stealthilyacross what had at one time been a lawn towards the evergreen tree I hadseen growing near the window. I saw in a moment that
it suited mypurpose, and a few seconds later I was perched on a branch on a levelwith the window from which the light had been shining, but which was nowdark even as the others were. This, as may be imagined, ruined my plans.My desire had been to look through the window, and so watch what tookplace in the room, and now everything had come to naught. Still Iwaited. I reflected that the light meant some living person in the room.It suggested that whoever lived in the old house used this part of it asa dwelling place. Even if the light was gone now it might be broughtback presently, and I had plenty of time to wait. Meanwhile I placedmyself in a position to watch the window, while the trunk of the treewas such an excellent protection that any one could pass under it, andlook up at it, without ever dreaming that I was there. As far as I couldjudge the tree was about twenty yards from the house, thus while it wasnot near enough for me to hear much, it enabled me to see clearly.
I had not been there more than a minute when a light shot from thewindow again, and I was enabled to see the interior of the room. Butthis was of no great use to me, even although I saw on a table manythings which were strange to me, and which even now I cannot describe.What was of interest to me was an old man carrying a candle. I could notsee his face as plainly as I desired, for the panes of glass were small,while in the centre of each one was a large lump which wellnigh blurredany object which lay behind. Presently, however, I saw that one of thepanes had been broken, and by means of this I was able to see clearly.But my range of vision was narrowed. As I have said the panes of glasswere small, and so I could not see the whole of the room; still, bymeans of supporting myself by holding the trunk of the tree andstretching as far as I could in each direction, I was able to obtain aview of a large part of the room.
After some trouble, therefore, I could see the old man's face moreplainly. I saw that he was very old and looked dirty and unkempt beyondrelief, his hair being in tangled wisps over his shoulders, while hisbeard seemed to wellnigh reach his waist. But old as he was there wereno signs of decrepitude. His movements were quick and decided. His handswere steady, while there was an eager look on his face. His eyes werewellnigh hidden by his huge overhanging forehead and his bushy eyebrows,but as far as I could judge his sight was not dim.
No sooner had he entered than he was followed by another form. This Isaw in spite of the badly made glass, but who it was I was not sure. Itmight have been a man, or a woman--I could not tell.
"The night is cold, come near the fire."
I heard these words plainly, but that was practically all I did hearduring the time I was there. As I have said, the tree on which I wasperched was twenty yards from the window, and except on this oneoccasion nearly everything was said in a low voice.
But his words enabled me to see who the other occupant of the room was,for at his behest the woman whom I had accompanied almost all the wayfrom Folkestone town came to a part in the room where I could see herplainly. She had thrown off her headgear, and the heavy cloak which shehad worn, and when I saw her there I wondered more than ever whatbusiness she could have with this old man. I have said that I thoughtshe was young when I saw her at first, but in the light of the candlewhich fell straight upon her face she did not look more than nineteenyears old. Her hair had been disarranged by her journey, but I saw thatit lay in curling richness over her head. In colour it was glossybrown, which was very near chestnut around the temples. Her featuresseemed to me the most noble I had ever gazed upon. It reminded me moreof what I had read of the old Greek goddesses than of an Englishwoman.Every feature was clearly cut, and but for the look which seemed to melike despair which gleamed from her eyes, and rested on her face, Ithought she would be beautiful beyond any one I had ever seen.
Presently they both drew near the fireplace, and both stood within therange of my vision at the same time. Then the strangeness of thesituation came to me more vividly than ever. The old man with his longtangled locks of white hair, his head sunk in between his shoulders, hislong beard wellnigh reaching the middle of his body, and with eagerangry looks flashing from his deep sunk eyes, and the woman young andbeautiful, her face clearly outlined, but pale as death, her hair like aflashing nimbus around her head, and her eyes fixed on the strangespecimen of humanity before her.
As I have said, I could catch little or nothing of the purport of theconversation; but I saw that both looked eager and determined. Presentlyafter the woman had been speaking the man shrugged his shoulders, andlaughed mockingly. He spread out his large bony hands deprecatingly andI could see from the expression on his face that he was telling her thatit was impossible to grant the request.
Then she changed her attitude. She appeared to be angry and to threatenhim. I saw her lift her right hand and point at him with her forefinger.She seemed also to be urging something that made him afraid, for I sawhim look around the room like a man in fear. But this was only for amoment. By the time she had finished speaking he had regained his formerself-possession and seemed to regard her threats as so many idle words.
Then I thought they changed places. He seemed to be making some requestof her, a request which I thought put fear into her heart, although sheyielded not to him. If she could not make him bend to her will neithercould he make her bend to his. What impressed me, moreover, was thecourage of this young girl. For although she might be the wife of theman at the inn, ay, and even obeyed him in unreasonable requests, sheheld her ground boldly before this old man living in the lonely house inthe midst of the Pycroft woods. But the wonder of it was to me beyondwords. A young girl fighting for her ends against this weird looking oldman. What was the meaning of it?
Presently their conversation seemed to change again. I saw her point tothe curious looking things which lay on the table, and this drew myattention to what seemed to me like glass tubes, several strange lookingvases, and, what was to me more strange and mysterious still, two humanskulls. As she spoke he took up one of the skulls, and as far as I couldjudge began to tell her something of the horrible thing which he held inhis hand.
To this she seemed to say something as if in protest for I heard hisanswer, in a harsh cracked voice.
"Let them. They who would harm me must know my secrets, and they whowould know my secrets must penetrate the depths of this old brain. Andcan they, ah, can they?"
Her reply to this did not reach me plainly, but I gathered that she toldhim of men who for dealing with the powers of darkness had suffered atthe stake.
"Burn me!" he cried, and his voice reached me clearly. "Let them try.Before a man is burnt, he confesses, and I would confess! Ay, I wouldconfess such things as would bring many a high head low. Judges, judges.Ay, but who is the judge that would dare to anger me?"
He shook his fist angrily, while his long beard waved to and fro as heshook his head in rage.
After this I could gather nothing for a long time. Sometimes they movedto another part of the room and then I could see nothing but dim blurredfigures behind the thick uneven glass, while their voices only reachedme in low mutterings.
After a time they moved near the fireplace again, and then I saw anotherlook upon the girl's face. I saw fear and anxiety which I had not notedbefore. Evidently he had told her of something, or she had somehowdiscovered something, that moved her more deeply than anything which hadgone before. The look on her face was pleading, and she held up herhands beseechingly. I saw, too, that the old man was evidently wellpleased with himself, for I heard him give utterance to a pleased littlecackle, which he intended for a laugh.
"I saw that the girl had fallen on her knees."]
"And if I do, and if I do, little Constance, what then?"
Again she spoke eagerly, passionately I thought, while the look on hisface became more and more full of self-satisfaction.
"Ah, ah," I heard him cackle, "so you discover that Old Solomon stillhath his wits, eh? That his bow hath many strings, eh? That he hath notsold himself to the devil for naught, eh? Ah, ah, but it does an oldman's heart good to see you, pretty little Constance."
I had discovered her name at last. Constance. At that time I could thinkof nothing sweeter, even although it was spoken by this withered,wrinkled old man in tones of ribaldry and mocking. Put it down to myyouth if you will, but the knowledge of her name made me long to be herfriend more than ever.
I looked away towards the eastward sky, and saw a faint glow in thehorizon. Evidently morning was drawing near. In another hour the sunwould have risen, and I began to wonder how the strange visit would end;but in another moment the thought of morning was driven from me, for Isaw that the girl had fallen on her knees before the strange oldcreature. I caught no words, but that she pleaded with him was evident,while more than once I heard her sobbing. I saw too that he seemed to berelenting, nay, I thought I saw even tenderness on his creasedforbidding face, which was followed by a look of cunning.
"And if I do, what then?" I heard him say.
But of her answer I caught nothing, although I strained every nerve tocatch even the faintest sound.
"More than that, more than that, pretty Constance," I heard him say."Obedience, my pretty bird, obedience!"
And now I saw a look of terror in her eyes, yet did she keep on pleadinguntil the old man seemed to make up his mind to grant her request.
I saw him leave the room, while she stood like one transfixed. She wasstanding where the light shone straight upon her face, so that I couldsee every feature, but nevertheless I could read no story thereon whichrevealed her secret. Courage I saw, tenderness I saw, nay, more itseemed to realize that it was not her own battle that she was fighting.What fear she had was not for herself. For who was it then? I couldthink of no one save the man at the inn, and there came into my head agreat anger, and a desire to wrest the secret of his power over her fromhim.
What led her to the window, I wondered. Was it the faint twitter of thebirds which began to bestir themselves at the rising of the King of Day,or did she give a thought to me who had promised to wait outside forher. I saw her place her face close against the glass and look steadilyout. What was in her mind, I asked myself. Did the thought that I wasnear give her comfort or help? She could not see me, for it was yet darkand I was almost hidden by the tree which I had climbed; neverthelessshe kept her face there until she was attracted, even as I had beenattracted, by a noise in the room.
She turned around quickly, and then I saw her move hastily away. She wasnow behind the thick uneven glass again, so that I could see nothingclearly, but I could have sworn that I saw another woman there. What shewas like I could not tell, for she never came to that part of the roomwhere I could see plainly. A minute later the woman who had been mycompanion left the room with the other, while the old man stood watchingthe door, with a look of doubt on his face, as if he doubted the wisdomof what he had done. A moment later he followed them, leaving the roomin utter darkness.
The Coming of the King Page 6