that his revolver was all right, gave her his hand, and they left the
house together.

"I think the best thing we can do will be to go round all the places
which are mixed up in this affair."

"All right, dear, I am ready. But, if you don't mind, we might go first
to Mercy. I am anxious about grandfather, and we might see that--as yet,
at all events--nothing has happened there."

So they went on the high-hung road along the top of the Brow. The wind
here was of great force, and made a strange booming noise as it swept
high overhead; though not the sound of cracking and tearing as it passed
through the woods of high slender trees which grew on either side of the
road. Mimi could hardly keep her feet. She was not afraid; but the
force to which she was opposed gave her a good excuse to hold on to her
husband extra tight.

At Mercy there was no one up--at least, all the lights were out. But to
Mimi, accustomed to the nightly routine of the house, there were manifest
signs that all was well, except in the little room on the first floor,
where the blinds were down. Mimi could not bear to look at that, to
think of it. Adam understood her pain, for he had been keenly interested
in poor Lilla. He bent over and kissed her, and then took her hand and
held it hard. Thus they passed on together, returning to the high road
towards Castra Regis.

At the gate of Castra Regis they were extra careful. When drawing near,
Adam stumbled upon the wire that Lady Arabella had left trailing on the
ground.

Adam drew his breath at this, and spoke in a low, earnest whisper:

"I don't want to frighten you, Mimi dear, but wherever that wire is there
is danger."

"Danger! How?"

"That is the track where the lightning will go; at any moment, even now
whilst we are speaking and searching, a fearful force may be loosed upon
us. Run on, dear; you know the way to where the avenue joins the
highroad. If you see any sign of the wire, keep away from it, for God's
sake. I shall join you at the gateway."

"Are you going to follow that wire alone?"

"Yes, dear. One is sufficient for that work. I shall not lose a moment
till I am with you."

"Adam, when I came with you into the open, my main wish was that we
should be together if anything serious happened. You wouldn't deny me
that right, would you, dear?"

"No, dear, not that or any right. Thank God that my wife has such a
wish. Come; we will go together. We are in the ha