The Face of the Abbot | Page 7

the indiscoverable--the motive. There must be
a motive. We should find it at the castle. We would go there on the
morrow. But, no; undue haste was unnecessary. It might be well for me,
helped as I should be by my own agency, a branch of which was to be
found in Lisbon, to discover amongst the late Mr. Sherwood's
acquaintances, friends, or relatives the motive that I wanted. My agents
set to work for me, but though they did their utmost no discovery of the

least value was found, and at the end of a week I told De Castro and
Helen that I was ready to start.
"We will go early to-morrow morning," I said. "You must make all
your preparations, Helen. It will take us the day to reach Castello
Mondego. I hope that our work may be completed there, and that we
may be back again in Lisbon within the week."
Helen's face lit up with a smile of genuine delight.
"The inaction of the last week has been terribly trying," she said. "But
now that we are really going to get near the thing I feel quite cheerful."
"Your courage fills me with admiration," I could not help saying, and
then I went out to make certain purchases. Amongst these were three
revolvers--one for Helen, one for De Castro, and one for myself.
Afterwards I had an interview with Sousa, and took him as far as I
could into my confidence.
"The danger of the supernatural is not worth considering," I said, " but
the danger of treachery, of unknown motives, is considerable. I do not
deny this fact for a moment. In case you get no tidings of us, come
yourself or send some one to the castle within a week."
"This letter came for you by the last post," said Sousa, and he handed
me one from Vandeleur.
I opened it and read as follows:--
"I met Madame Sara a week ago at the house of a friend. I spoke to her
about Castello Mondego. She admitted that she was interested in it, that
she knew Miss Sherwood, and hoped when she had taken possession to
visit her in that romantic spot. I inquired further if she was aware of the
contents of the strange will. She said she had heard of it. Her manner
was perfectly frank, but I saw that she was uneasy. She took the first
opportunity of leaving the house, and on making inquiries I hear that
she left London by the first train this morning, en route for the

Continent. These facts may mean a great deal, and I should advise you
to be more than ever on your guard."
I put the letter into my pocket, got Sousa to promise all that was
necessary, and went away.
At an early hour the following morning we left Rocio Station for
Coimbra, and it was nearly seven in the evening when we finally came
to the end of our railway journey and entered a light wagonette drawn
by two powerful bay stallions for our twenty-mile drive to the castle.
The scenery as we approached the spurs of the Estrella was magnificent
beyond description, and as I gazed up at the great peaks, now bathed in
the purples and golds of the sunset, the magic and mystery of our
strange mission became tenfold intensified. Presently the steep ascent
began along a winding road between high walls that shut out our view,
and by the time we reached the castle it was too dark to form any idea
of its special features.
De Castro had already sent word of our probable arrival, and when we
rang the bell at the old castle a phlegmatic-looking man opened the
door for us.
"Ah, Gonsalves," cried De Castro, "here we are! I trust you have
provided comfortable beds and a good meal, for we are all as hungry as
hawks."
The old man shrugged his shoulders, raised his beetle-brows a trifle,
and fixed his eyes on Helen with some astonishment. He muttered, in a
Portuguese dialect which I did not in the least comprehend, something
to De Castro who professed himself satisfied. Then he, said something
further, and I noticed the face of my Portuguese friend turn pale.
"Gonsalves saw the spectre three nights ago," he remarked, turning to
me. "It was leaning as usual out of one of the windows of the
north-west turret. But, come; we must not terrify ourselves the moment
we enter your future home, Niece Helen. You are doubtless hungry.
Shall we go to the banqueting-hall?"

The supper prepared for us was not appetizing, consisting of some
miserable goatchops, and in the great hall, dimly lighted by a few
candles in silver sconces, we could scarcely see each other's faces. As
supper