I slipped back and hid behind the inner door and held my breath as they came out into the passage, talking excitedly.
The suspense of those few moments was more trying than words can describe.
I had failed to find the means of opening the front door; and if they went back into the room where I had been lying, I should be caught like a rabbit in a snare. The instant I was discovered my life would not be worth a spent match.
They stood wrangling in the passage for a time that seemed an age to me in my excited suspense; and every second I expected one or other of them to go back to the room and then announce my flight.
"Well, let’s have a look at the beggar first and see if we can’t drag it out of him," said one, whose voice I recognized as that of the man who had been standing by the door.
My heart sank and I gave myself up for lost. My only chance, and that the faintest and feeblest, was that I might seize the moment of respite to get the door of the house open.
But just when matters appeared to be at their worst, the luck turned. The man who had prevented Dragen before intervened now.
"You can get him some brandy and he’ll be all right."
"Where is it?" came the reply; and there was a pause.
"I shan’t wait," said the former speaker again. "I shall take the risk of going. Fritz is just below with the horses. If there’s any violence before we get back, you’ll have to answer for it."
"Answer to hell," growled Dragen fiercely.
"I shall split on the whole thing if there is, mind that," retorted the other in quite as angry a tone; and he passed my hiding-place, opened the door, and went out.
He tried to close it sharply behind him; but I took a risk at that moment and thrust my foot in the way. Fortunately he was in too bad a temper to care whether he left it open or shut, and ran down the steps.
"Would he split?" asked another nervously.
"Perhaps the beggar’s well enough to talk now. Let’s see."
"Bring the lantern," said another, and the shuffling of feet followed.
I dared not wait any longer; and moreover I had another plan now than merely to escape. I guessed that the man I was following meant to go to von Felsen; and I meant him to take me with him.
I opened the door stealthily and slipped out. The carriage was some twenty yards away, and I darted toward it. My lack of boots rendered my footfalls absolutely silent, and I reached it, unseen and unheard, just as the man had got in and was turning to shut the door.