Ha, ha, ha!, when they come for the bride she will
be already rolling on the turnpike between Tip Top and Staunton!"
"But you! Oh, you, my generous deliverer?"
"I shall dress myself in your clothes and stay here in your place to
keep you from being missed, so as to give you full time to make your
escape."
"But--you will place yourself in the enraged lion's jaws! You will
remain in the power of two men who know neither justice nor mercy!
Who, in their love or their hate, fear neither God nor man! Oh,
Capitola! how can I take an advantage of your generosity, and leave
you here in such extreme peril? Capitola, I cannot do it!"
"Well, then, I believe, you must be anxious to marry Craven Le
Noir!"
"Oh, Capitola!"
"Well, if you are not, hurry and get ready; there is no time to be
lost!"
"But you! but you, my generous friend!"
"Never mind me. I shall be safe enough! I am not afraid of the Le
Noirs. Bless their wigs; I should like to see them make me blanch.
On the contrary, I desire above all things to be pitted against
these two! How I shall enjoy their disappointment and rage! Oh, it
will be a rare frolic!"
While Capitola was speaking she was also busily engaged doing. She
went softly to the door and turned the key in the lock, to prevent
any one from looking through the keyhole, murmuring as she did it:
"I wasn't brought up among the detective policemen for nothing!"
Then she began to take off her riding-habit.
Pages:
96
97
98
99
100
101
102
103
104
105
106
107
108
109
110
111
112
113
114
115
116
117
118
119
120