Master Syd
taking care of him; and her ladyship was took bad too, after a rumpus at
the hotel."

"Oh, how disgraceful!" interrupted Jane. "Her ladyship stooping to do
that, and master getting tipsy and running races. I shall give notice,
Mark. I've got a character to lose."

"You'd better! You don't leave here till--you know."

"Oh, no, I don't; and now I'm going to bed. But tell me, where did you
say her ladyship was?"

"How many more times?" cried the groom, impatiently. "I've told you
five or six times."

"You haven't, Mark."

"I have. Her ladyship was took bad at the hotel when she found the
guv'nor looking quite tight afore he went off to win the race, and only
just in time to get up to the scratch. Then as soon as it was over the
doctor has to physic him and see to her ladyship, and the doctor and
Lady Tilborough takes her to Oakleigh."

"Why didn't they bring her home?" said Jane, sharply.

"How should I know? Because Lady Tilborough thought perhaps that master
would join 'em there and make it up. But I dunno. Had too much
business of my own to 'tend to."

"What business?" said Jane, suspiciously. "Getting along with a bad set
of touts, drinking, I suppose."

"Get out! I was making sure of the money I'd won while I could. That's
right; hang away from a fellow! Just like a woman! Think you're going
to ketch something?"

"That will do," said the girl, coldly. "You smell horrid of beer and
smoke. Oh, Mark!" she whispered; and he had no room for complaints of a
want of warmth, for the girl flung her arms about him, clinging tightly,
and placed her lips closely to his ear. "There," she cried, in an
agitated way; "hark! Is that fancy? There are burglars in the house."

Mark drew the girl more into the shade near the fireplace, and softly
picked up the brightly-polished poker from where it lay. For he had
distinctly heard a soft rattle as if of a latchkey, the opening and
closing of the hall door, and then as he stood listening there was the
scratch of a match which faintly lit up the hall as far as they could
see through the drawing-room door.

Directly after there was a click, as of a candlestick being removed, an
augmentation of the light which approached, and in the full intention
of--to use the groom's own words--"letting 'em have it," Mark thrust the
girl behind him, and made ready to bring the poker down heavily upon the
burglar's head.

But he did not, for the head and fa