he ears
in the servants' hall, and we were met by William and a small but compact
body of female servants urging him to armed resistance. A kitchen-maid
fainted away as soon as we were recognised, and the strain of terror
relaxed.

I saw at once that Master Herbert's condition caused them no surprise.
We carried him to the servants' hall and laid him in an armchair, to rest
our arms, while the motherly cook lifted his unconscious head to lay a
pillow beneath it.

As she did so, a bell jangled furiously on the wall above.

"Good Lord!" Horrex turned a scared face up at it. "The library!"

"What's the matter in the library?"

But he was gone: to reappear, a minute later, with a face whiter than
ever.

"The mistress wants you at on'st, sir, if you'll follow me. William, run
out and see if you can raise another cab--four-wheeler."

"What, at this time of night?" answered William. "Get along with you!"

"Do your best, lad." Mr. Horrex appealed gently but with pathetic
dignity. "If there's miracles indoors there may be miracles outside.
This way, sir!"

He led me to the library-door, knocked softly, opened it, and stood aside
for me to enter.

Within stood his mistress, confronting another policeman!

Her hands rested on the back of a library-chair: and though she stood up
bravely and held herself erect with her finger-tips pressed hard into the
leather, I saw that she was swaying on the verge of hysterics, and I had
the sense to speak sharply.

"What's the meaning of this?" I demanded.

"This one--comes from Marlborough Street!" she gasped.

I stepped back to the door, opened it, and, as I expected, discovered
Horrex listening.

"A bottle of champagne and a glass at once," I commanded, and he sped.
"And now, Miss Joy, if you please, the constable and I will do the
talking. What's your business?"

"Prisoner wants bail," answered the policeman.

"Name?"

"George Anthony Richardson."

"Yes, yes--but I mean the prisoner's name."

"That's what I'm telling you. 'George Anthony Richardson,
four-nought-two, Cromwell Road'--that's the name on the sheet,
and I heard him give it myself."

"And I thought, of course, it must be you," put in Clara; "and I wondered
what dreadful thing could have happened--until Horrex appeared and told me
you were safe, and Herbert too--"

"I think," said I, going to the door again and taking the tray from
Horrex, "that you were not to talk. Drink this, please."

Sh