[Illustration: THE INNOCENT MR. GRAHAM WAS DRAGGED OUT FORCIBLY FROM HIS HIDING-PLACE BY A TALL, THIN FEMALE OF UNUSUAL STRENGTH.]
Mr. Graham looked apprehensively at the dagger. It had, as he knew, a nasty sharp point. He therefore obeyed her orders. He made no sound and uttered no word while she tied the cushion over his face and pinioned his arms to his side with the picture-cord. Then she turned to William. William had for the moment lost all power of action. Things were moving too fast for him.
"She must know," whispered Miss Rubina Strange. "I'll break it to her gently. Don't let him move till I come back. I'll find out if she wishes to prosecute. Which is her bedroom?" He stared at her open-mouthed. "Never mind," she went on. "I'll soon find her."
When she had gone, William turned his gaze to the figure in the chair. All that could be seen above the pinioned arms was a large cushion. The cushion began to move spasmodically, to shake convulsively, and to utter muffled curses. The whole figure began to writhe in its bonds. From what he could make out of the words that came from the cushion, William instinctively felt that the monologue was one that his mother would not wish him to hear. He therefore listened attentively, mouth and ears wide open. The words appeared forcible if somewhat inaudible.
Just as Mr. Graham had bent down his invisible head to try to bite the bonds round his knees through his cushion, Miss Strange, looking wild and dishevelled, returned.
"She's GONE ..." she burst out. "She's not in the house, not in any of the bedrooms.... What SHALL we do?"
At this point, with a bellow of rage, the man in the chair managed to shake off his cushion. The face that emerged was hardly human. Something violent had happened to its hair. Something violent had happened to its collar. Something violent had happened to its expression. Before he could utter anything that was in his mind, a housemaid came into the room.
"Oooo----" she said, "it's the master. They're a-murdering of him! Ooo-oo!" With which remark she fled.
"The master!" gasped Miss Strange. She turned to William, "I didn't know your father was alive." Then she turned to the figure who was obviously seeking words capable of expressing his feelings. "Where is your wife?" she ended sternly. "Miserable man, where is your wife?"