"Heggs! are you there? Is no one on duty?"
There was no answer; the tall sentry-box was empty.
Wolfenden came over to his father's side and brought the lamp with him, and together they leaned out. At first they could see nothing; then Wolfenden threw off the shade from the lamp and the light fell in a broad track upon a dark, motionless figure stretched out upon the turf. Wolfenden stooped down hastily.
"My God!" he exclaimed, "it is Heggs! Father, won't you sound the gong? We shall have to arouse the house."
There was no need. Already the library was half full of hastily dressed servants, awakened by the sound of the Admiral's revolver. Pale and terrified, but never more self-composed, Lady Deringham stepped out to them in a long, white dressing-gown.
"What has happened?" she cried. "Who is it, Wolfenden--has your father shot any one?"
But Wolfenden shook his head, as he stood for a moment upright, and looked into his mother's face.
"There is a man hurt," he said; "it is Heggs, I think, but he is not shot. The evil is not of our doing!"
It was still an hour or two before dawn. No trace whatever of the marauders had been discovered either outside the house or within. With difficulty the Earl had been persuaded to relinquish his smoking revolver, and had retired to his room. The doors had all been locked, and two of the most trustworthy servants left in charge of the library. Wolfenden had himself accompanied his father upstairs and after a few words with him had returned to his own apartment. With his mother he had scarcely exchanged a single sentence. Once their eyes had met and he had immediately looked away. Nevertheless he was not altogether unprepared for that gentle knocking at his door which came about half an hour after the house was once more silent.
He rose at once from his chair--it seemed scarcely a night for sleep--and opened it cautiously. It was Lady Deringham who stood there, white and trembling. He held out his hand and she leaned heavily on it during her passage into the room.
He wheeled his own easy chair before the fire and helped her into it. She seemed altogether incapable of speech. She was trembling violently, and her face was perfectly bloodless. Wolfenden dropped on his knees by her side and began chafing her hands. The touch of his fingers seemed to revive her. She was not already judged then. She lifted her eyes and looked at him sorrowfully.