Donal descended, and said to Davie,
"I wish you not to say a word about this to any one, Davie, before
lady Arctura or I give you leave. You have a secret with us now. The
castle belongs to lady Arctura, and she has a right to ask you not
to speak of it to any one without her permission.--I have a reason,
my lady," he went on, turning to Arctura: "will you, please, desire
Davie to attend to what I say. I will immediately explain to you,
but I do not want Davie to know my reason until you do. You can on
the instant withdraw your prohibition, should you not think my
reason a good one."
"Davie," said Arctura, "I too have faith in Mr. Grant: I beg you
will keep all this a secret for the present."
"Oh surely, cousin Arkie!" said Davie. "--But, Mr. Grant, why should
you make Arkie speak to me too?"
"Because the thing is her business, not mine. Run down and wait for
me in my room. Go steadily over the bartizan, mind."
Donal turned again to Arctura.
"You know they say there is a hidden room in the castle, my lady?"
"Do you believe it?" she returned.
"I think there may be such a place."
"Surely if there had been, it would have been found long ago."
"They might have said that on the first report of the discovery of
America!"
"That was far off, and across a great ocean!"
"And here are thick walls, and hearts careless an timid!--Has any
one ever set in earnest about finding it?"
"Not that I know of.
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