s heel, and swung
off into the darkness. I was left with a notion that we possessed a man
more than we had counted in our neighborhood.

I made for the Priory--_ventre-a-terre_. Something had come
home to Jenny when Fillingford tore up her letter and told her that
she was not like Eleanor Lacey for nothing. Till then she had been
negotiating--negotiating still, though ever so defiantly--still trying
to find out what he thought, trying to see what view he took, even
though she ostentatiously abstained from self-defense. At that action
and at that speech she had frozen. "Probably not!" That was her
acceptance of his action and his words. She had taken them for her
answer--the tearing of the letter and his one bitter speech.

The big house lay hospitably open to the night--lights in the windows,
lamps burning in the hall and illuminating the approach. Well, it was
early evening yet--only nine o'clock. All might be safe and well within
doors, and yet the doors be open. I ran up the steps in a passion of
excitement.

As I reached the door, I was met--not by Loft nor by any of the men--but
by the trembling figure of a woman. Chat had heard feet on the
steps--she had been in waiting! My heart sank as lead. Whom had she been
waiting for? Not for me!

"I did my best, I did my best," she whispered, catching me by the lapel
of my greatcoat. "I kept him as long as I could. What happened?"

"The worst of luck. Is she here?"

"Here?" She seemed amazed. "No! Did you see her? Where have you left
her?"

"Then she's gone," I said.

Chat stood where she was for a second, then dropped into the
hall-porter's chair which was just behind her. She began to sob
violently, rocking herself to and fro. "I tried, I tried, I tried!" she
kept saying through her sobs.

I became suddenly aware that Loft had come into the hall. He appeared
not to notice Chat. He stood there, grave and attentive, awaiting my
orders.

"Miss Driver has been suddenly called away. I don't think she'll be home
to night. If she should come, the night-watchman will let her in, and
Miss Chatters will be up. The rest of you needn't wait after your usual
time."

"Very good, sir," said Loft. Gravely, with his measured step, he walked
away and left us alone together.

Chat stopped sobbing for a moment--to ask me a supremely unimportant
question.

"Was she very angry with me, Mr. Austin?"

"She didn't say one word about you."

"Oh, I'm glad of that, I'm glad of