door fixed against the side of the house. All the strange things he had
heard from Sir Nathaniel, and all those, little and big, which he had
himself noticed, crowded into his mind in a chaotic way. Instinctively
he took refuge behind a thick oak stem, and set himself down, to watch
what might occur.

After a short time it became apparent that the African was trying to find
out what was behind the heavy door. There was no way of looking in, for
the door fitted tight into the massive stone slabs. The only opportunity
for the entrance of light was through a small hole between the great
stones above the door. This hole was too high up to look through from
the ground level. Oolanga, having tried standing tiptoe on the highest
point near, and holding the lantern as high as he could, threw the light
round the edges of the door to see if he could find anywhere a hole or a
flaw in the metal through which he could obtain a glimpse. Foiled in
this, he brought from the shrubbery a plank, which he leant against the
top of the door and then climbed up with great dexterity. This did not
bring him near enough to the window-hole to look in, or even to throw the
light of the lantern through it, so he climbed down and carried the plank
back to the place from which he had got it. Then he concealed himself
near the iron door and waited, manifestly with the intent of remaining
there till someone came near. Presently Lady Arabella, moving
noiselessly through the shade, approached the door. When he saw her
close enough to touch it, Oolanga stepped forward from his concealment,
and spoke in a whisper, which through the gloom sounded like a hiss.

"I want to see you, missy--soon and secret."

"What do you want?"