Danger in the Dark - ZseZse

184 DANGER IN THE DARK.
creaking noise;' on opening, she found Alonzo at
the door, carriage-whip in hand, who informed her
he was accompanied by Enola and Isadora, whom
he had left with the vehicle but a few rods off,concealed
under the shadow of a locust-tree - thinking
it better to use caution in their proceedings.
Fearing Carleton might be taken on surprise, Mary
informed him that some man in clerical garments had
come in a few minutes previous, and was in a room
near-by.
The better to shield himself from observation, in
case this nocturnal visitor should chance to pass out,
Alonzo concluded to stand within, while Miss Glidewell
went to let Maria and Arabella know their readiness
to depart. As he closed the door, he heard a
female voice, in a shrill whisper, say:
"That must have been the door-bolt-I heard it
creak. Indeed, Mr. Dupin, I'm very suspicious of
that singular girl, to whom you've granted such
extraordinary privileges here."
" Ah! Rev. Dupin is on hand, it seems," said
Alonzo to himself; "it's lucky that I happened to
bring this carriage-whip along; I possibly may have
occasion to use it in a way I had not thought of."
"I wouldn't at all be surprised," said the female
voice again, "if that girl were coaxing Maria and
Arabella to leave the convent."
" I must look out for that," answered a male voice,
followed by a sound as of one leaping out of bed j