The She Wolf of France Read Online Free PDF

trying to dissuade his nephew from escaping.
    `Listen, Uncle, they're coming,' the younger Mortimer said, his voice curt and authoritative. `You must get up now.'
    There were footsteps approaching the door, sounding on the flagstones. A voice called: `My lord!'
    `I's that you, Alspaye?' Mortimer asked.
    `Yes, my lord, but I haven't got the key. Your turnkey's so drunk , H e's lost the bunch. In his present condition, it's impossible to get any sense out him. I've searched everywhere.'
    There was a sniggering laugh from the uncle's pallet.
    The younger Mortimer swore in his disappointment. Was Alspaye lying? Had he taken fright at the last moment? But why had he come at all, in that case? Or was it merely one of those absurd mischances such as the prisoner had been trying to foresee all day, and which was now presenting itself in this guise?
    `I assure you everything's ready, my lord,' went on Alspaye. `The Bishop's powder we put in the wine has worked wonders. They were very drunk already and noticed nothing. And now they're sleeping the sleep of the dead. The ropes are ready, the boat's waiting for you. But I can't find the key.'
    `How long have we got?'
    `The sentries are unlikely to grow anxious for half an hour or so. They feasted too before going on guard.'
    `Who's with you?' `Ogle.'
    `Send him for a sledgehammer, a chisel and a crowbar, and take the stone out.'
    `I'll go with him, and come back at once.'
    The two men went off. Roger Mortimer measured the time bythe beating of his heart. Was he to fail because of a lost key? It needed only a sentry to abandon his post on some pretext -or other and the chance would be gone. Even the old Lord was silent.
    Mortimer could hear his irregular breathing from the other side of the dungeon.
    Soon a ray of light filte red under the door. Alspaye was back with the barber, who was carrying a candle and the tools. They set to work on the stone in the wall into which the bolt of the lock was sunk some two inches. They did their best to muffle their hammering; but, even so, it seemed to them that the noise echoed through the whole Tower. Slivers of stone fell to the ground. At last, the lock gave way and the door opened.
    `Be quick, my lord,' Alspaye said.
    His face glowed pink in the light of the candle and was dripping with sweat; his hands were trembling.
    Roger Mortimer went to his uncle and bent over him.
    `No, go along, my boy,' said the old man. `You must escape.
    May God protect you. And don't hold it against me that I'm old.' The elder Mortimer drew his nephew to him by the sleeve, and traced the sign of the cross on his forehead with his thumb: `Avenge us, Roger,' he murmured. Roger Mortimer bowed his head and left the dungeon. `Which way do we go?' he asked. `By the kitchens,' Alspaye replied.
    The Lieutenant, the barber and the prisoner went up a few stairs, along a passage and through several dark rooms.
    `Are you armed, Alspaye?' Roger Mortimer whispered suddenly.
    `I've got my dagger.' `There's a man there!'
    There was a shadow against the wall; Mortimer had seen it first. The barber concealed the weak flame of the candle behind the palm of his hand. The Lieutenant drew his dagger. They
    moved slowly forward.
    The man was standing quite still in the shadows. His shoulders and arms were flat against the wall and his legs; wide apart. He seemed to be having some difficulty in remaining upright.
    `It's Seagrave,' the Lieutenant said.
    The one-eyed Constable had become aware that both he and his men had been drugged and had succeeded in making his way as far as this. He was wrestling with an overwhelming longing to sleep. He could see his prisoner escaping and his lieutenant betraying him, but he could neither utter a sound nor move a limb. In his single eye, beneath its heavy lid, was the fear of death. The Lieutenant struck him in the face with his fist. The Constable's head went back against the stone and he fell to the ground.
    The three men passed the door of the great