"Then you are a spy?"
"If you will, but let me tell you what is in my mind before you call me by that name again. I was awakened an hour or two ago by the sound of a woman sobbing. She was pleading with some man not to send her out at midnight, but he persisted. I heard him threaten her, I heard him tell her that if her name were known some dread calamity would happen to her. I knew that he had some power over her, possessed some secret concerning her, and that she had perforce to do his will."
"Well, what then, sir?" she asked sharply.
"He commanded her to go to Pycroft, along a road that is infested by footpads."
"And what have you to do with this?"
"Nothing except that I determined to follow her, and offer her what protection and help I could give her. Ay, and more, to rid her from the man who is so unworthy to call himself her protector."
At this she came up close to me, and looked steadily into my face.
"Is that all you know?" she said.
"That is all."
"And that is your reason for following me?"
"That is my reason."
"What is your name?"
I could see no harm in telling her. My name was unknown, and my mission hither was, I believed, a secret.
"Roland Rashcliffe," I said.
"Of Epping?"
"Of that family, yes."
"And this is true?"
"On my word as a gentleman, yes."
Again she looked at me steadily as if she were in sore straits what to do, and did not know whether she might trust me.
"You know nothing about me beyond what you have said?"
"Nothing."
"And you desire only to see me safe from harm?"
"That is all," and at the time it was true, for under the influence of the woman's presence my own mission to Pycroft seemed of little import.
"And if I allow you to accompany me you will ask me no questions?"
"I desire you to answer no questions of mine, nor to reveal to me anything which you would keep secret."
"You do not know my name – nor his name?"
"No."
Again she scanned me eagerly, and then looked around her. All round us was a weary waste of uncultivated land, beyond the dark woods a cloud shot over the moon, while away in the distance the horizon was blackened by what looked like a coming storm. The winter had gone, and the spring was upon us, nevertheless the night had grown cold. I saw her shudder.
"What are you?" she said. "Roundhead, or Cavalier?"
"I do not know."
At this she looked at me suspiciously.
"My father fought for the king in the first Civil War," I replied. "But I have stayed at home all my life. I have not interested myself in politics. I have helped to look after what remains of my father's estates."
"You have spent your life in idleness?"
"I have sought to learn those things which may become a gentleman," I replied. "I can use a sword, and I am not altogether an ignoramus."
"You love books then?"
"I have read the writings of both William Shakespeare and John Milton," I replied, "and I know a little of such writings of Corneille and Molière as have been brought to this country."
"You know French then?"
"A little. But that hath nothing to do with my desire to befriend you. You are in trouble, and I would help you."
"You desire not to harm me?"
"So help me God, no."
"But why are you here?" she asked suspiciously. "If your home is at Epping Forest, what are you doing at Folkestone?"
"I came at my father's bidding," I replied after a moment's hesitation.
"Ah, you have a secret, too," she cried.
At this I was silent, while I wondered at the quickness with which she fastened upon the truth. Nevertheless, I was sure her voice was friendly, and I thought she was glad to have me near. And this was no wonder, for courageous although she might be, her mission was one which must strike terror in the bravest heart.
But still she hesitated. What was passing in her mind I knew not; but I imagined that two fears fought one against the other in her heart. One, the fear of going alone to the haunted house situated amid the great Pycroft woods, and the other the fear of accepting the protection of one of whom she knew nothing, and whom she had never seen until that hour.
The winds blew colder, while away in the distance I heard the rumble of thunder, and this I think decided her. Had it been day I do not believe she would have listened to me for a moment, but it was night and a thunderstorm was sweeping towards us; besides, although a courageous one, she was still a woman.
"Promise me again that you will not seek to interfere with my mission, or to harm me," she said.
"I promise," I replied.
"I will accept your escort," she said. "Come quickly, for what is done must be done quickly."
We walked together across the broad open land, while the black cloud grew larger and larger. The moon had also sunk low, and the night had grown dark. Even now a strange feeling comes into my heart as I think of our journey towards the old house, for reared in the country as I had been, ay, and in the very midst of the great forest which lies east of London town, I thought I never knew any place so lonely as this. Besides, I knew naught of my companion. That she was young, and fair to look upon, I could not help seeing, but I knew not her name, neither did I understand the mystery which surrounded her life.
Twice I saw her turn and gaze furtively at me, as though desiring to know what was in my mind, but for the most part she walked straight on, never turning to the right nor to the left.
Nearer and nearer we came to the pine woods which stood on the edge of the open land, and as we did so drops of rain began to fall upon us. Then I thought I saw her shudder, but she spoke no word. In spite of the way she had spoken to me, I fell to pitying her more than ever. For truly it was a sad predicament for a young maid, evidently well-born and tenderly reared, to be placed in. From what she had said to the man at the inn, she knew nothing either of Pycroft or its inmates, neither could she tell what her welcome to the lonely house would be like.
Once she stopped and listened as though she heard strange sounds near, and then presently moved on again without a word. By and bye we came to a pond beside the road, close by which was a gateway. Beyond were, as far as I could judge, dense dark woods.
"This is the place," I said.
"How do you know?"
"It accords with the description the man gave you at the inn."
"Yes, but you know nothing of those who live at the house?"
"Nothing."
"You may accompany me until we come in sight of the house, but after that you must go no further."
"Why?"
"You promised to ask no questions."
"I promised not to interfere with your mission," I replied, "neither will I. I have kept by your side for more than two miles without speaking a word concerning it. Nevertheless I have not promised to obey you in all things. Had I, I should not be by your side now. I cannot promise not to go too close to the house. It may be that you will need help, and I mean to keep close by your side."
"But why?" and I thought my words gave her comfort.
"Because I desire to be your friend."
In