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Adam noticed that from now on, his friend never spoke of Lady Arabellaotherwise, except when he wished to divert the suspicion of others

Sir Nathaniel switched off the electric light, and when the room waspitch dark, he came to Adam, took him by the hand, and led him to a seatset in the southernThen he softly drew back a piece of thecurtain and motioned his companion to look out

Adah his eyes had opened onpressing dangerHis co in a lowvoice:

"It is all right; you erhere--at present!"

Ada care, however, not to press his face againstthe glassWhat he saould not under ordinary circumstances havecaused concern to anybodyWith his special knowledge, it wasappalling--though the night was now so dark that in reality there waslittle to be seen

On the western side of the tower stood a grove of old trees, of forestdirouped closely, but stood a little apart fro the effect of a roidely plantedOver the topsof thenal at arailway-crossingIt seemed at first quite still; but presently, whenAdam's eye becaThis at once recalled to Adaabove the well-hole in the darkness of that inner rooa's awful shriek, and the hideous black face, non grey withterror, disappearing into the iloom of the mysteriousorificeInstinctively he laid his hand on his revolver, and stood upready to protect his wifeThen, seeing that nothing happened, and thatthe light and all outside the tower remained the same, he softly pulledthe curtain over the

Sir Nathaniel switched on the light again, and in its coan to talk freely

CHAPTER XXII--AT CLOSE QUARTERS

"She has diabolical cunning," said Sir Nathaniel"Ever since you left,she has ranged along the Brow and wherever you were accustoe of your movements cameto her, nor have I been able to learn any data whereon to found anopinionShe seee and your absence;but I gather, by inference, that she does not actually knohere you andMioes out onher rounds, and before dawn covers the whole ground round the Brow, andaway up into the heart of the PeakThe White Worreat facilities for the business on which she isnow engagedShe can look into s of any ordinary kindHappily,this house is beyond her reach, if she wishes--as she nisedBut, even at this height, it is wise to show nolights, lest sheof our presence or absence"

"Would it not be well, sir, if one of us could see thisto run the risk--for I takeit there would be no slight risk in the doingI don't suppose anyone ofour time has seen her close and lived to tell the tale"

Sir Nathaniel held up an expostulatory hand

"Good God, lad, what are you suggesting?Think of your wife, and allthat is at stake"

"It is of Mi to riskwhatever is to be risked"

Ada bride was proud of her hastly White WormAdam saw this and at once reassured her

"So long as her ladyship does not knohereabout I am, I shall have as, that we cannot betoo careful"