Lieutenant Brackenbury Rich. But the servants in the street will have a
strange awakening. The house which this evening was full of lights and
visitors they will find uninhabited and for sale to-morrow morning. Thus
even the most serious concerns," added the Colonel, "have a merry side."

"And let us add a merry ending," said Brackenbury.

The Colonel consulted his watch.

"It is now hard on two," he said. "We have an hour before us, and a
swift cab is at the door. Tell me if I may count upon your help."

"During a long life," replied Major O'Rooke, "I never took back my hand
from anything, nor so much as hedged a bet."

Brackenbury signified his readiness in the most becoming terms; and
after they had drunk a glass or two of wine, the Colonel gave each of
them a loaded revolver, and the three mounted into the cab and drove off
for the address in question.

Rochester House was a magnificent residence on the banks of the canal.
The large extent of the garden isolated it in an unusual degree from the
annoyances of neighbourhood. It seemed the _parc aux cerfs_ of some
great nobleman or millionaire. As far as could be seen from the street,
there was not a glimmer of light in any of the numerous windows of the
mansion; and the place had a look of neglect, as though the master had
been long from home.

The cab was discharged, and the three gentlemen were not long in
discovering the small door, which was a sort of postern in a lane
between two garden walls. It still wanted ten or fifteen minutes of the
appointed time; the rain fell heavily, and the adventurers sheltered
themselves below some pendent ivy, and spoke in low tones of the
approaching trial.

Suddenly Geraldine raised his finger to command silence, and all three
bent their hearing to the utmost. Through the continuous noise of the
rain, the steps and voices of two men became audible from the other side
of the wall; and, as they drew nearer, Brackenbury, whose sense of
hearing was remarkably acute, could even distinguish some fragments of
their talk.

"Is the grave dug?" asked one.

"It is," replied the other; "behind the laurel hedge. When the job is
done, we can cover it with a pile of stakes."

The first speaker laughed, and the sound of his merriment was shocking
to the listeners on the other side.

"In an hour from now," he said.

And by the sound of the steps it was obvious that the pair had
separated, and were proceeding in contrary directions