ut the husky voice
again. 'Control yourself! Speak gently! What's that?'

'Begging your pardon, sir, I'm perfectly under control. And all I say is
that I can't stay any longer alone downstairs there. There's somebody in
the house.'

A concentrated hush seemed to have fallen on the little assembly.

'"Somebody"--but who?' said Sheila out of the silence. 'You come up
here, Ada, with these idle fancies. Who's in the house? There has been
no knock--no footstep.'

'No knock, no footstep, ma'am, that I've heard. It's Dr Ferguson, ma'am.
He was here that first night; and he's been here ever since. He was here
when I came on Tuesday; and he was here last night. And he's here now.
I can't be deceived by my own feelings. It's not right, it's not
out-spoken to keep me in the dark like this. And if you have no
objection, I would like to go home.'

Lawford in his utter weariness had nearly closed the door and now sat
bent up on a chair, wondering vaguely when this poor play was coming to
an end, longing with an intensity almost beyond endurance for the keen
night air, the open sky. But still his ears drank in every tiniest sound
or stir. He heard Danton's lowered voice muttering his arguments. He
heard Ada quietly sniffing in the darkness of the hall. And this was his
world! This was his life's panorama, creaking on at every jolt. This was
the 'must' Grisel had sent him back to--these poor fools packed
together in a panic at an old stale tale! Well, they would all come out
presently, and cluster; and the crested, cackling fellow would lead them
safely away out of the haunted farmyard.

He started out of his reverie at Danton's voice close at hand.

'Look here, my good girl, we haven't the least intention of keeping you
in the dark. If you want to leave your mistress like this in the midst
of her anxieties she says you can go and welcome. But it's not a bit of
good in the world coming up with these cock-and-bull stories. The truth
is your master's mad, that's the sober truth of it--hopelessly insane,
you understand; and we've got to find him. But nothing's to be said,
d'ye see? It's got to be done without fuss or scandal. But if there's
any witness wanted, or anything of that kind, why, here you are; and,'
he dropped his voice to an almost inaudible hoot, 'and well worth your
while! You did see him, eh? Step into the trap, and all that?'

Ada stood silent a moment. 'I don't know, sir,' she began quietly, 'by
what right you s