Read "The Hunchback of Westminster" by William le Queux online for free on Textopian. Full text with search, annotations, highlights, and AI-powered reading aids.
There was not a second to spare. Casteno shot at me a look of mingled entreaty and command to leave the frenzied professor to do his worst. The persons we had to fear were not, he motioned, in that tent at all but outside, scouring the grounds for medical assistance, and spreading everywhere news of our wonderful appearance out of the rain-clouds. Only let them hear this maniac's wild cries for assistance and they would hasten back to us, and then all hope, all chance of escape, for either of us would be cut off.
Nevertheless, I thought of Doris lying there so weak, helpless, and friendless; and I hesitated. I felt I had already stifled Love so often for Duty that I could repress it no longer. Indeed, I took a step in her direction to make myself known to her, but, misconceiving my object, thinking I had no idea but one -- to flee -- Leopardi seized me in a grip of iron. "You shall not go," he panted -- "never! You are a thief, and you shall pay for your crime."