Guess-Work at Goltres

A scud of wind and rain hampered Prosper on his ride over Goltres
Heath. The steady increase of both in volume and force kept him at
work all day; but towards dusk the wind dropped a little, the clouds
split and drifted in black shreds over a clear sky full of the yellow
evening light. Just at the twilight he came to a shallow mere edged
with reeds, with wild fowl swimming upon it, and others flying swiftly
over on their way to the nest. At the far end of the lake, but yet in
the water, was a dim castle settling down into the murk. A gaunt shell
it was, rather than a habitable place; its windows were sightless
black; only in the towers you could see through them the pale sky
behind. The wind ruffled the mere, little cold waves lapped in the
reeds; there was no other house in sight whichever way you turned. In
all the dun waste of raw and cold it was Goltres or nothing for a
night's lodging.

"Galors has been before me again," thought Prosper. "The place is a
skeleton, the husk of a house. Well, there must be a corner left which
will keep the rain out. We shall have more before day, if I am
anything of a prophet."

There was a huge bank of cloud to windward; the wind came uneasily, in
puffs, with a smell of rain. Prosper's horse shivered and shook
himself from head to heels.

"As I live," cried Prosper suddenly, "there is a light in the house."
In a high window there was certainly a flickering light. "Where
there's a light there's a man or a woman. Where there's one there is
room for two. I am for Goltres if I can win a passage."