ndon all at once.
For a long time he stood looking thoughtfully at the house in Audley
Place. He was just about to turn away finally when the light began to
flash and flicker again. It went on a little time and finally ceased.

"Now, has he forgotten something?" Field asked himself. "I wonder if it
is possible----"

Field crept quietly towards the house, across the lawn, and made his way
to the back by which he had entered the place on a previous occasion. As
he expected, the glass removed by him had not been replaced, so that he
was free to enter if he pleased. It was a very risky proceeding under
the circumstances, but Field decided to try it. He would be much better
satisfied to gain speech with Berrington, though the latter's escape
might have alarmed the criminals and sent them to cover again.

Field was inside the house again before he had made up his mind what to
do. The place was very quiet, and it was evident that the servants had
not returned. Perhaps there was nobody there besides Berrington, who was
a prisoner in one of the upper rooms. That being the case it was by no
means impossible to gain speech with him. Very carefully Field crept
along the passages, listening with all his ears.

He had not gone far before he heard a sound as of somebody moving. That
somebody was coming in his direction was certain. Field began to blame
himself for his folly. If he fell into a trap now, everything would be
ruined. He turned down a side passage, without the remotest idea where
he was going, and came at length to a lighted room, at the end of which
was a conservatory full of flowers. The conservatory was open to the
room, so that the whole place was a veritable bower of blooms. On one
side was a large bank of azaleas, behind which Field proceeded to hide
himself. He had hardly done this when there was a kind of creaking
sound, the door was pushed open, and Carl Sartoris entered in his chair.
With great difficulty the cripple proceeded to crawl into a big
arm-chair, after which he took from his pocket a wig and a pair of
spectacles. He seemed to be expecting somebody. He gave a little cough,
and immediately somebody in the hall began to talk.

"Mr. Sartoris is in the conservatory room, miss," a voice said, and
Field had no difficulty in recognising the voice of the doctor,
Bentwood. "Will you come this way, please?"

Field congratulated himself upon the line that he had taken. From behind
the bank of flowers he coul