ows
were filled with flashes of red light, a great fissure parted the wall,
the pictures and bookcases came crashing down beneath a shower of
masonry. It was the affair of a second. Above them shone the stars and
around them a noise like thunder. Bernadine, who alone understood, was
the first to recover himself. He stood in the midst of them, his hands
above his head, laughing as he looked around at the strange
storm--laughing like a madman.

"The wonderful Carl!" he cried. "Oh, matchless servant! Arrest me now,
if you will, you dogs of the police. Rout out my secrets, dear Baron de
Grost. Tuck them under your arm and hurry to Downing Street. This is the
hospitality of the High House, my friends. It loves you so well that
only your ashes shall leave it."

His mouth was open for another sentence when he was struck. A whole
pillar of marble from one of the rooms above came crashing through and
buried him underneath a falling shower of masonry. Peter escaped by a
few inches. Those who were left unhurt sprang through the yawning wall
out into the garden. Sir John, Sogrange, Peter, and three of the
men--one limping badly, came to a standstill in the middle of the lawn.
Before them the house was crumbling like a pack of cards, and louder
even than the thunder of the falling structures was the roar of the red
flames.

"The Baroness!" Peter cried, and took one leap forward.

"I am here," she sobbed, running to them from out of the shadows. "I
have lost everything--my jewels, my clothes, all except what I have on.
They gave me but a moment's warning."

"Is there anyone else in the house?" Peter demanded.

"No one but you who were in that room," she answered.

"Your companion?"

She shook her head.

"There was no companion," she faltered. "I thought it sounded better to
speak of her. I had her place laid at table, but she never even
existed."

Peter tore off his coat.

"There are the others in the room!" he exclaimed. "We must go back."

Sogrange caught him by the shoulder and pointed to a shadowy group some
distance away.

"We are all out but Bernadine," he said. "For him there is no hope.
Quick!"

They sprang back only just in time. The outside wall of the house fell
with a terrible crash. The room which they had quitted was now blotted
out of existence. It was not long before, from right and left, in all
directions along the country road, came the flashing of lights and
little knots of hurrying people.

"