spiracies
attended to from nine A. M. to eleven P. M. Kindly note hours of
consultation.'--Hello!" he said aloud; "is anybody there?"

The door opened a few inches, but no one entered. Lionel was too bored
to speculate whether it might be Mizzi, Winifred or some unknown
Oriental with turban and simitar. He was prepared to accept anything, if
only he might be allowed to go to sleep. "Hello!" he repeated; "who is
that?"

"Me," said the voice of Miss Arkwright. "Are you asleep, Mr. Mortimer?"

"Yes," said Lionel, grinning in the darkness--"sound asleep."

A species of cluck was heard from outside the door, but whether the
strange sound indicated amusement or wrath he could not determine. He
was wide awake now, determined to exact vengeance for his cavalier
treatment.

"Some one," continued the voice, "is prowling round the house. A thief,
I suppose. He seems to have a ladder."

"Oh!" said Lionel, in the dispassionate tone of the village idiot. "Oh!"

Again there was silence, save for a repetition of the curious cluck.
Presently Winifred said in a voice that trembled with indignation, "Is
that all you have to say?"

"You might give him my kind regards, and ask him to leave this room
untouched," said Lionel, beginning to enjoy himself. He could picture
Winifred biting her lip. "Good night, and pleasant dreams."

"You are a _man_, and my guest," said the voice bitterly, "and you leave
us at the mercy of a possible murderer----"

"Not a guest," he corrected, "but a prisoner. If you require a man, why
not ask Forbes? You were ready enough to use him just now."

Again there was silence. When she spoke again it was in the meekest of
tones--so meek, indeed, that he scarcely recognized it as Winifred's.

"Mr. Mortimer, I am very sorry. Please be generous. I threatened you
with a weapon I did not possess. Forbes sleeps in the village."

Lionel could not repress a laugh. He had been bluffed, but bore no
malice. Enough of vengeance had been exacted. He could accept the
capitulation without loss of dignity, for Miss Arkwright--most
properly--had been obliged to ask his help.

"A moment," he said, "and I shall be with you."

Jumping out of bed, he hastily put on his dressing-gown in the dark.
Then he opened the door and joined Winifred in the corridor. She was in
a dressing-gown, too, and looked charming _en deshabille_, her glorious
hair unbound. But no time was allowed for more than a glance of
admiration. Taking him