Munson smiled to himself.
Then Purley reiterated all his cautions for the careful guarding of his
charge, and at length bade his comrade good-night, and retired to the
vacant chamber, to guard the door on that side.
Munson drew his mattress across the hall-door as he had been directed to
do, and laid himself down in all his clothes--not to sleep, but to
listen and watch until the house should grow quiet; for on this night he
was resolved to effect the deliverance of Sybil, or perish in the
attempt.
Meanwhile Mr. and Mrs. Berners had retired to their chamber--not to
rest, but to wait for events; for on this night a sure presentiment
informed them that Robert Munson, on guard there at their outer door,
would be sure to use his opportunities for attempting a rescue. So they
quietly coöperated with what they divined to be his intentions.
First Sybil went and hung a towel over the knob of the lock, so as to
darken the key-hole of the door guarded by Purley. Then she slipped the
bolt, saying: "He may guard us if he must, but he shall neither look in upon us, nor
intrude upon us, if I can help it."
And then, instead of undressing for bed, they did the opposite thing,
and quietly dressed for an escape. And lastly, they concealed their
money and jewels about their persons, and threw a few of the most
necessary articles for their journey into one travelling bag, and then
sat down to listen and watch on the inside, as their friend was
listening and watching on the outside.
Then they heard Purley arranging and re-arranging his bed against his
door, and tumbling down upon it, like a man utterly overcome by fatigue
and drowsiness; after which all was silent, until the stertorous
breathing of the bailiff assured them of the depth of his sleep. After
that, not a sound was heard in the house. Lyon looked at his watch. It
was but nine o'clock, though the whole house was at rest. In these
remote country places, people go to roost with the fowls, or very soon
after.
Still for another hour of silent, breathless suspense they waited; and
then they heard a faint tapping on the door that was guarded by Munson.
Mr. Berners went up, and tapped gently in response.
"Hist!" breathed the voice from without, through the key-hole.
"Well!" murmured Lyon, through the same channel.
"Take some of the melted tallow on the top of your candle, and grease
the key-hole as well as you can, and then I will come in and talk to
you, if you will let me."
"Thanks; yes."
And Mr. Berners did as he was requested to do, and Munson slipped his
key into the lubricated key-hole, and silently unlocked the door.