me in, looking, as usual, very quiet and
thoughtful; and after a while Artis came down, looking dull and sleepy.

"Where's the boss?" he said, suddenly.

"The what?--I do not understand you," said the old lawyer.

"The master--the guardian of this tomb. Where's Capel?"

"Oh," said the old lawyer. "Possibly the fine morning may have tempted
him to take a walk."

"Are we going to wait for Capel?" said Artis.

"I'm so hungry, I feel quite ashamed," said Katrine; "but I think we
ought to wait."

"There is nothing to be ashamed of in a healthy young appetite, my dear
young lady," said the old lawyer. "I have been reading in my room since
six, and I should like to begin. I don't suppose he will be long. Mr
Capel out, Preenham?"

"I think not, sir," said the butler, who was bringing in a covered dish.

"Perhaps you had better tell him that we are all assembled. He may have
overslept himself."

At the end of five minutes the old butler was back to say that Mr Capel
had not answered when he knocked.

"He may be ill," said Lydia anxiously, and then, catching Katrine's eye,
she coloured warmly.

Preenham gave Artis a meaning look, and that gentleman followed him out.

"What is it?"

"Mr Capel hasn't been to bed all night, sir."

"Not been to bed all night, Preenham?" said the old lawyer, who had
followed. "Did you let him out last night?"

"No, sir."

"Then how can he have gone out? I saw that the door was fastened after
you had gone to bed, and it was still fastened when I came down at six."

"And at seven too, sir," said the butler.

"He must be in the house," said Artis. "Go and look round."

"Is Mr Capel ill?" said Katrine.

"No, no, my dear, I think not," said the old lawyer. "I'll go, too, and
see."

"It is very strange," said Katrine, turning to Lydia, who looked ashy
pale. "I hope nothing is the matter, dear."

She seemed so calm that Lydia took courage and returned to the
breakfast-table, while, followed by the old lawyer and Preenham, Artis
examined the dining-room and study, then ascended to the first floor,
tried the Colonel's door, found it fast, and went on into the
drawing-room.

"I tried that door," he said grimly, "because that is the chamber of
horrors."

"It is locked, and the key is in my table," said the old lawyer, and
then they searched the other rooms, finding Capel's watch, purse and
pocketbook, and looked at each other blankly.

"He must be out," said Artis.