fied," the Colonel muttered, and the next moment--for the sun had
already set a full hour--he was gone also. The light was waning fast,
night was falling in the valley. Before he had travelled a hundred
yards he was lost to view.

The fishing-party had started the contrary way, so that he had nothing
to fear from them. But that he might omit no precaution, when he had
gone a quarter of a mile he halted and listened, with his ear near the
ground, for the beat of pursuing footsteps. He heard none, nor any
sounds but the low of a cow whose calf was being weaned, the "Whoo!
hoo! hoo!" of owls beginning to mouse beside the lake, and the creak of
oars in a boat which darkness already hid. He straightened himself with
a sigh of relief, and hastened at speed in the direction of the
waterfall.

He gave Flavia credit for all the virtues, if for some of the faults of
a proud, untamed nature. Therefore he believed her to be fearless.
Nevertheless, before he stood on the platform and made out the shape of
the Tower looming dark and huge above him, he had come to the
conclusion that the need which forced her to such a place at such an
hour must be great. The moon would not rise before eleven o'clock, the
last shimmer of the water had faded into unfathomable blackness beneath
him; he had to tread softly and with care to avoid the brink.

He peered about him, hoping to see her figure emerge beside him. He did
not, and, disappointed, he coughed. Finally, in a subdued voice, he
called her by name, once and twice. Alas! only the wind, softly
stirring the grass and whispering in the ivy, answered him. He was
beginning to think--with a chill of disappointment, excessive at his
age and in the circumstances--that she had failed to come, when, at no
great distance before him, he fancied some one moved. He groped his way
forward half a dozen paces, found a light break on his view, and stood
in astonishment.

The movement had carried him beyond the face of the Tower, and so
revealed the light, which issued from a doorway situate in the flank of
the building. He paused; but second thoughts, treading on the heels of
surprise, reassured him. He saw that in that position the light was not
visible from the lake or the house; and he moved quickly to the open
door, expecting to see Flavia. Three steps led down to the basement
room of the Tower; great was his surprise when he saw below him in this
remote, abandoned building--in this room three feet