ouldn't
have let her in for it if it could have been avoided. Touch the
bell for me before you go, will you? I want Barry."

Val let himself out by the window and the impassive valet
entered. But it was some time before Bernard spoke to him.

"Is that you, Barry? I didn't hear you come in."

"Now what's in the wind?" speculated Barry behind his
professional mask. "Up all night and civil in the morning? Oh
no, I don't think."

"Shall I wheel you to your room, sir?"

"Not yet," said Clowes. He waited to collect his strength.
"Shut all those windows." Barry obeyed. "Turn on the electric
light . . . .Put up the shutters and fasten them securely . . . .
Now I want you to go all over the house and shut and fasten all
the other ground floor windows: then come back to me."

"Am I to turn on the electric light everywhere, sir?" Barry asked
after a pause.

"Where necessary. Not in the billiard room; nor in Mrs. Clowes'
parlour." Barry had executed too many equally singular orders
to raise any demur. He came back in ten minutes with the news
that it was done.

"Now wheel me into the hall," said Clowes. Barry obeyed. "Shut
the front doors. . . . Lock them and put up the chain."

This time Barry did hesitate. "Sir, if I do that no one won't be
able to get in or out except by the back way: and it's close on
seven o'clock."

"You do what you're told."

Barry obeyed.

"Now wheel my couch in front of the doors."

"Mad as a March hare!" was Barry's private comment. "Lord, I
wish Mr. Stafford was here."

"That will do," said Clowes.

He settled his great shoulders square and comfortable on his
pillow and folded his arms over his breast.

"I want you to take an important message from me to the other
servants. Tell them that if Mrs. Clowes or Captain Hyde come to
the house they're not to be let in. Mrs. Clowes has left me and
I do not intend her to return. If they force their way in I'll
deal with them, but any one who opens the door will leave my
service today. Now get me some breakfast. I'll have some coffee
and eggs and bacon. Tell Fryar to see that the boiled milk's
properly hot."

Barry, stupefied, went out without a word, leaving the big couch,
and the big helpless body stretched out upon it, drawn like a bar
across the door.

CHAPTER XVI

It was a fatigued and jaded party that got out on the platform at
Countisford. The mere wearing of evening dress when other people
are at b