'No one knows I've got it in the
trap, and, besides, no one can catch up with Rory when he once
starts.'
Marchurst put the nugget under the seat of the trap, but Madame was
afraid it might slip out by some chance, so she put the box
containing it in front, and then her feet on the box, so that it was
absolutely impossible that it could get lost without her knowing.
Then saying goodbye to everyone, and telling M. Vandeloup to be out
at the Pactolus before noon the next day, she gathered up the reins
and drove slowly down the hill, much to the delight of Mr Villiers,
who was getting tired of waiting. Kitty and Vandeloup strolled off
in the moonlight, while Marchurst went back to the house.
Villiers arose from his hiding-place, and looked up savagely at the
serene moon, which was giving far too much light for his scheme to
succeed. Fortunately, however, he saw a great black cloud rapidly
advancing which threatened to hide the moon; so he set off down the
hill at a run in order to catch his wife at a nasty part of the road
some distance down, where she would be compelled to go slowly, and
thus give him a chance to spring on the trap and take her by
surprise. But quick as he was, Pierre was quicker, and both
Vandeloup and Kitty could see the two black figures running rapidly
along in the moonlight.
'Who are those?' asked Kitty, with a sudden start.
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