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confession；' I continued。 'To stand here before you； vanquished； a
prisoner in a fortress； and take my own name upon my lips； is
painful to the proud。 And yet I wished that you should know me。
Long after this； we may yet hear of one another … perhaps Mr。
Gilchrist and myself in the field and from opposing camps … and it
would be a pity if we heard and did not recognise。'
They were both moved； and began at once to press upon me offers of
service； such as to lend me books； get me tobacco if I used it； and
the like。 This would have been all mighty welcome； before the
tunnel was ready。 Now it signified no more to me than to offer the
transition I required。
'My dear friends；' I said … 'for you must allow me to call you
that； who have no others within so many hundred leagues … perhaps
you will think me fanciful and sentimental； and perhaps indeed I
am； but there is one service that I would beg of you before all
others。 You see me set here on the top of this rock in the midst
of your city。 Even with what liberty I have； I have the
opportunity to see a myriad roofs； and I dare to say； thirty
leagues of sea and land。 All this hostile！ Under all these roofs
my enemies dwell； wherever I see the smoke of a house rising； I
must tell myself that some one sits before the chimney and reads
with joy of our reverses。 Pardon me； dear friends； I know that you
must do the same； and I do not grudge at it！ With you； it is all
different。 Show me your house then； were it only the chimney； or；
if that be not visible； the quarter of the town in which it lies！
So； when I look all about me； I shall be able to say： 〃THERE IS ONE
HOUSE IN WHICH I AM NOT QUITE UNKINDLY THOUGHT OF。〃'
Flora stood a moment。
'It is a pretty thought；' said she； 'and； as far as regards Ronald
and myself； a true one。 Come； I believe I can show you the very
smoke out of our chimney。'
So saying； she carried me round the battlements towards the
opposite or southern side of the fortress； and indeed to a bastion
almost immediately overlooking the place of our projected flight。
Thence we had a view of some foreshortened suburbs at our feet； and
beyond of a green； open； and irregular country rising towards the
Pentland Hills。 The face of one of these summits （say two leagues
from where we stood） is marked with a procession of white scars。
And to this she directed my attention。
'You see these marks？' she said。 'We call them the Seven Sisters。
Follow a little lower with your eye； and you will see a fold of the
hill； the tops of some trees； and a tail of smoke out of the midst
of them。 That is Swanston Cottage； where my brother and I are
living with my aunt。 If it gives you pleasure to see it； I am
glad。 We； too； can see the castle from a corner in the garden； and
we go there in the morning often … do we not； Ronald？ … and we
think of you； M。 de Saint…Yves； but I am afraid it does not
altogether make us glad。'
'Mademoiselle！' said I； and indeed my voice was scarce under
command； 'if you knew how your generous words … how even the sight
of you … relieved the horrors of this place； I believe； I hope； I
know； you would be glad。 I will come here daily and look at that
dear chimney and these green hills； and bless you from the heart；
and dedicate to you the prayers of this poor sinner。 Ah！ I do not
say they can avail！'
'Who can say that； M。 de Saint…Yves？' she said softly。 'But I
think it is time we should be going。'
'High time；' said Ronald； whom （to say the truth） I had a little
forgotten。
On the way back； as I was laying myself out to recover lost ground
with the youth； and to obliterate； if possible； the memory of my
last and somewhat too fervent speech； who should come past us but
the major？ I had to stand aside and salute as he went by； but his
eyes appeared entirely occupied with Flora。
'Who is that man？' she asked。
'He is a friend of mine；' said I。 'I give him lessons in French；
and he has been very kind to me。'
'He stared；' she said； … 'I do not say； rudely； but why should he
stare？'
'If you do not wish to be stared at； mademoiselle； suffer me to
recommend a veil；' said I。
She looked at me with what seemed anger。 'I tell you the man
stared；' she said。
And Ronald added。 'Oh； I don't think he meant any harm。 I suppose
he was just surprised to see us walking about with a pr … with M。
Saint…Yves。'
But the next morning； when I went to Chevenix's rooms； and after I
had dutifully corrected his exercise … 'I compliment you on your
taste；' said he to me。
'I beg your pardon？' said I。
'Oh no； I beg yours；' said he。 'You understand me perfectly； just
as I do you。'
I murmured something about enigmas。
'Well； shall I give you the key to the enigma？' said he； leaning
back。 'That was the young lady whom Goguelat insulted and whom you
avenged。 I do not blame you。 She is a heavenly creature。'
'With all my heart； to the last of it！' said I。 'And to the first
also； if it amuses you！ You are become so very acute of late that
I suppose you must have your own way。'
'What is her name？' he asked。
'Now； really！' said I。 'Do you think it likely she has told me？'
'I think it certain；' said he。
I could not restrain my laughter。 'Well； then； do you think it
likely I would tell you？' I cried。
'Not a bit。' said he。 'But come； to our lesson！'
CHAPTER VI … THE ESCAPE
THE time for our escape drew near； and the nearer it came the less
we seemed to enjoy the prospect。 There is but one side on which
this castle can be left either with dignity or safety； but as there
is the main gate and guard； and the chief street of the upper city；
it is not to be thought of by escaping prisoners。 In all other
directions an abominable precipice surrounds it； down the face of
which （if anywhere at all） we must regain our liberty。 By our
concurrent labours in many a dark night； working with the most
anxious precautions against noise； we had made out to pierce below
the curtain about the south…west corner； in a place they call the
DEVIL'S ELBOW。 I have never met that celebrity； nor （if the rest
of him at all comes up to what they called his elbow） have I the
least desire of his acquaintance。 From the heel of the masonry；
the rascally； breakneck precipice descended sheer among waste
lands； scattered suburbs of the city； and houses in the building。
I had never the heart to look for any length of time … the thought
that I must make the descent in person some dark night robbing me
of breath； and； indeed； on anybody not a seaman or a steeple…jack；
the mere sight of the DEVIL'S ELBOW wrought like an emetic。
I don't know where the rope was got； and doubt if I much cared。 It
was not that which gravelled me； but whether； now that we had it；
it wo