RUPERT'S JOURNAL--_Continued_.
_July_ 1, 1907.
Another week gone. I have waited patiently, and I am at last rewarded byanother letter. I was preparing for bed a little while ago, when I heardthe same mysterious sound at the door as on the last two occasions. Ihurried to the glass door, and there found another close-folded letter.But I could see no sign of my Lady, or of any other living being. Theletter, which was without direction, ran as follows:
"If you are still of the same mind, and feel no misgivings, meet me atthe Church of St. Sava beyond the Creek to-morrow night at a quarterbefore midnight. If you come, come in secret, and, of course, alone. Donot come at all unless you are prepared for a terrible ordeal. But ifyou love me, and have neither doubts nor fears, come. Come!"
Needless to say, I did not sleep last night. I tried to, but withoutsuccess. It was no morbid happiness that kept me awake, no doubting, nofear. I was simply overwhelmed with the idea of the coming rapture whenI should call my Lady my very, very own. In this sea of happyexpectation all lesser things were submerged. Even sleep, which is animperative force with me, failed in its usual effectiveness, and I laystill, calm, content.
With the coming of the morning, however, restlessness began. I did notknow what to do, how to restrain myself, where to look for an anodyne.Happily the latter came in the shape of Rooke, who turned up shortlyafter breakfast. He had a satisfactory tale to tell me of the armouredyacht, which had lain off Cattaro on the previous night, and to which hehad brought his contingent of crew which had waited for her coming. Hedid not like to take the risk of going into any port with such a vessel,lest he might be detained or otherwise hampered by forms, and had goneout upon the open sea before daylight. There was on board the yacht atiny torpedo-boat, for which provision was made both for hoisting on deckand housing there. This last would run into the creek at ten o'clockthat evening, at which time it would be dark. The yacht would then runto near Otranto, to which she would send a boat to get any message Imight send. This was to be in a code, which we arranged, and wouldconvey instructions as to what night and approximate hour the yacht wouldcome to the creek.
The day was well on before we had made certain arrangements for thefuture; and not till then did I feel again the pressure of my personalrestlessness. Rooke, like a wise commander, took rest whilst he could.Well he knew that for a couple of days and nights at least there would belittle, if any, sleep for him.
For myself, the habit of self-control stood to me, and I managed to getthrough the day somehow without exciting the attention of anyone else.The arrival of the torpedo-boat and the departure of Rooke made for me awelcome break in my uneasiness. An hour ago I said good-night to AuntJanet, and shut myself up alone here. My watch is on the table beforeme, so that I may make sure of starting to the moment. I have allowedmyself half an hour to reach St. Sava. My skiff is waiting, moored atthe foot of the cliff on the hither side, where the zigzag comes close tothe water. It is now ten minutes past eleven.
I shall add the odd five minutes to the time for my journey so as to makesafe. I go unarmed and without a light.
I shall show no distrust of anyone or anything this night.