The Light That Lures | Page 8

man upstairs, might augur further evil for him. They
had perchance returned along the road to make certain that their work
was complete, and, finding their victim gone, were now in search of
him. Exactly what reliance was to be placed on the word of the
wounded man, Barrington had not yet determined. He might be a
contemptible spy, his message might contain hidden information to the
enemies of his country; he was certainly carrying it to aristocrats who
were safe across the frontier, and he might fully deserve all the
punishment which had been meted out to him, but for the moment he
was unable to raise a hand in his own defense and his helplessness
appealed to Barrington. These men should not have their will of him if
he could prevent it.
"Keep out of the way of being questioned," he whispered to the
landlord, as they went down the stairs. It was characteristic of Richard
Barrington that he had formed no plan when he entered the room. He
believed that actions must always be controlled by the circumstances of
the moment, that it was generally essential to see one's enemy before
deciding how to outwit him, a false theory perhaps, but, given a strong
personality, one which is often successful.
"Good evening, gentlemen! My friend and I are not the only late
travelers to-night."
The two men looked sharply at him. Their attention had been keenly,
though furtively, concentrated upon Seth, who sat in a corner,
apparently half asleep. In fact, having just noticed them, he had closed
his eyes as though he were too weary and worn out to talk.
Both men curtly acknowledged Barrington's greeting, hardly conscious
of the curtness maybe. They were of the people, their natural roughness
turned to a sort of insolent swagger by reason of the authority which
had been thrust upon them. They were armed, blatantly so, and
displayed the tri-colored cockade. In some society, at any rate, they
were of importance, and this stranger and the manner of his greeting
puzzled them. He spoke like an aristocrat, yet there was something
unfamiliar about him.

"Did you have to batter at the door before you could gain admittance?"
asked one. Of the two, he seemed to have the greater authority.
"No, we arrived before the door was closed."
"Closed doors are suspicious," the man returned with an oath. "This is
the day of open doors and freedom for all, citizen."
"Liberty, equality, and fraternity," Barrington answered. "It is a good
motto. One that men may well fight for."
"Do you fight for it?" asked the man, truculently.
"Not yet," said Barrington, very quietly and perfectly unmoved,
apparently seeing nothing unusual in the man's manner or his question,
but quite conscious that Seth had sleepily let his hand slip into his
pocket and kept it there.
"Late travelers on the road are also suspicious," said the man, stepping
a little nearer to Barrington.
"Indeed! Tell me, of what are you afraid? My friend and I are armed, as
I see you are. We may join forces against a common danger. Four
resolute men are not easily to be played with."
"Aristocrats find it convenient to travel at night, and tricked out just as
you are," he said. "I have taken part in stopping many of them."
"Doubtless an excellent and useful occupation," Barrington returned.
"And I have heard many of them talk like that," said the man, "an
attempt to throw dust into eyes far too sharp to be blinded by it. You
will tell me where you travel to and where from."
"Do you ask out of courteous curiosity, as meeting travelers may do, or
for some other reason?"
"You may think whichever pleases you."

"I am not making for the frontier, if that is what you want to know,"
laughed Barrington.
"I asked a question which it will be well for you to answer," said the
man, and it was evident that his companion was also on the alert.
"Have you authority to question me?" Barrington asked.
"Papers here," said the man, touching his coat, "and this." His hand fell
upon a pistol in his belt.
"Leave it there. It is the safest place."
Seth's hands had come from his pocket with a pistol in it. Barrington
still laughed.
"My friend seems as suspicious as you are. Let me end it, for truly I
expected to be drinking with you before this, instead of trying to find a
cause for quarrel. Your eyes must be sharp indeed if you can discover
an aristocrat in me. I was for freedom and the people before you had
struck a blow for the cause here in France. We are from the coast,
before that from America, and we journey to Paris to offer our