第20部分(第4/7 頁)

to　this　hidden　foe；　whom　it　was　impossible　to　meet　or　to　avoid。　Therefore　it　seemed　quite　possible　that　the　solemn　act　of　her　marriage　with　Harry　might　be　the　occasion　of　some　new　and　dreadful　outbreak　of　his　hatred。

One　morning；　a　week　before　the　day　appointed　for　the　ceremony；　Nell；　rising　early；　went　out　of　the　cottage　before　anyone　else。　No　sooner　had　she　crossed　the　threshold　than　a　cry　of　indescribable　anguish　escaped　her　lips。

Her　voice　was　heard　throughout　the　dwelling；　in　a　moment；　Madge；　Harry；　and　Simon　were　at　her　side。 Nell　was　pale　as　death；　her　countenance　agitated；　her　features　expressing　the　utmost　horror。　Unable　to　speak；　her　eyes　were　riveted　on　the　door　of　the　cottage；　which　she　had　just　opened。

With　rigid　fingers　she　pointed　to　the　following　words　traced　upon　it　during　the　night： 〃Simon　Ford；　you　have　robbed　me　of　the　last　vein　in　our　old　pit。 Harry；　your　son；　has　robbed　me　of　Nell。 Woe　betide　you！　Woe　betide　you　all！ Woe　betide　New　Aberfoyle！……SILFAX。〃

〃Silfax！〃　exclaimed　Simon　and　Madge　together。

〃Who　is　this　man？〃　demanded　Harry；　looking　alternately　at　his　father　and　at　the　maiden。

〃Silfax！〃　repeated　Nell　in　tones　of　despair；　〃Silfax！〃……and；　murmuring　this　name；　her　whole　frame　shuddering　with　fear　and　agitation；　she　was　borne　away　to　her　chamber　by　old　Madge。

James　Starr；　hastening　to　the　spot；　read　the　threatening　sentences　again　and　again。

〃The　hand　which　traced　these　lines；〃　said　he　at　length；　〃is　the　same　which　wrote　me　the　letter　contradicting　yours；　Simon。 The　man　calls　himself　Silfax。 I　see　by　your　troubled　manner　that　you　know　him。　Who　is　this　Silfax？〃

CHAPTER　XVII　THE　〃MONK〃

THIS　name　revealed　everything　to　the　old　overman。　It　was　that　of　the　last　〃monk〃　of　the