The six sisters of the valleys : an historical romance - University Library

THE HAWK AND THE DOVE. 177
I may be useful to you both ; indeed, my own
interest urges me to be your true friend."
" We were to meet to-morrow night
again, at eight o'clock, after sunset."
" Where?"
"At the same place. Near the farm,
on my dear mother's grave."
" But are you not afraid to go ?"
" No, the lives of my friends are at
stake. He did not know all the particulars,
but will tell me more certainly what would
happen, and name a place of refuge, where
there may be no soldiers. He was a
bearer of a despatch from the Marquis of
Pianesse, and from what he had heard at
Turin he feared it related to some cruel
plot of this kind."
" But how can you tell that he is the
one you are to meet ?"
1 ' Because we have a signal. His sword
is to be placed in the ground near my
hiding-place, so that I may know that all is
safe."
VOL. II. n