npackourthings,”saidthebutler.
“Oh,John,John,haveIbroughtyoutothis?Itismydoing,SirHenry—allmine.HehasdonenothingexceptformysakeandbecauseIaskedhim.”
“Speakout,then!Whatdoesitmean?”
“Myunhappybrotherisstarvingonthemoor.Wecannotlethimperishatourverygates.Thelightisasignaltohimthatfoodisreadyforhim,andhislightoutyonderistoshowthespottowhichtobringit.”
“Thenyourbrotheris—”
“Theescapedconvict,sir—Selden,thecriminal.”
“That’sthetruth,sir,”saidBarrymore.“IsaidthatitwasnotmysecretandthatIcouldnottellittoyou.Butnowyouhaveheardit,andyouwillseethatiftherewasaplotitwasnotagainstyou.”
This,then,wastheexplanationofthestealthyexpeditionsatnightandthelightatthewindow.SirHenryandIbothstaredatthewomaninamazement.Wasitpossiblethatthisstolidlyrespectablepersonwasofthesamebloodasoneofthemostnotoriouscriminalsinthecountry?
“Yes,sir,mynamewasSelden,andheismyyoungerbrother.Wehumouredhimtoomuchwhenhewasaladandgavehimhisownwayineverythinguntilhecametothinkthattheworldwasmadeforhispleasure,andthathecoulddowhathelikedinit.Thenashegrewolderhemetwickedcompanions,andthedevilenteredintohimuntilhebrokemymother’sheartanddraggedournameinthedirt.FromcrimetocrimehesanklowerandloweruntilitisonlythemercyofGodwhichhassnatchedhimfromthescaffoldbuttome,sir,hewasalwaysthelittlecurly-headedboythatIhadnursedandplayedwithasaneldersisterwould.Thatwaswhyhebrokeprison,sir.HeknewthatIwashereandthatwecouldnotrefusetohelphim.Whenhedraggedhimselfhereonenight,wearyandstarving,withthewardershardathisheels,whatcouldwedo?Wetookhiminandfedhimandcaredforhim.Thenyoureturned,sir,andmybrotherthoughthewouldbesaferonthemoorthananywhereelseuntilthehueandcrywasover,sohelayinhidingthere.Buteverysecondnightwemadesureifhewasstilltherebyputtingalightinthewindow,andiftherewasananswermyhusbandtookoutsomebreadandmeattohim.Everydaywehopedthathewasgone,butaslongashewastherewecouldnotdeserthim.Thatisthewholetruth,asIamanhonestChristianwomanandyouwillseethatifthereisblameinthematteritdoesnotliewithmyhusbandbutwithme,forwhosesakehehasdoneallthathehas.”
Thewoman’swordscamewithanintenseearnestnesswhichcarriedconvictionwiththem.
“Isthistrue,Barrymore?”
“Yes,SirHenry.Everywordofit.”
“Well,Icannotblameyouforstandingbyyourownwife.ForgetwhatIhavesaid.Gotoyourroom,youtwo,andweshalltalkfurtheraboutthismatterinthemorning.”
Whentheyweregonewelookedoutofthewindowagain.SirHenryhadflungitopen,andthecoldnightwindbeatinuponourfaces.Farawayintheblackdistancetherestillglowedthatonetinypointofyellowlight.
“Iwonderhedares,”saidSirHenry.
“Itmaybesoplacedastobeonlyvisiblefromhere.”
“Verylikely.Howfardoyouthinkitis?”
“OutbytheCleftTor,Ithink.”
“Notmorethanamileortwooff.”
“Hardlythat.”
“Well,itcannotbefarifBarrymorehadtocarryoutthefoodtoit.Andheiswaiting,thisvillain,besidethatcandle.Bythunder,Watson,Iamgoing