"Very good, sir!"
The servant was about to retire when the burly form of a uniformed warder blocked the doorway. He saluted.
"I understand Sir Reginald is away; can I speak to you a moment, sir?"
Jim glanced over his shoulder at Marjorie. She was hidden from sight, seated in a large armchair.
"Certainly," he replied. He crossed the room and stepped into the hall, closing the drawing-room door behind him.
As he did so a noise from the conservatory on the left of the fireplace startled Marjorie. The sound of a sudden crash. She listened a moment, then rose to her feet.
Very quietly stepping towards the door which led into the hot-house, she pulled back the curtain and peered through the glass panel.
CHAPTER XIX.
"YOU MUST GO BACK!"
Marjorie could see nothing. It was quite dark outside now. She listened, straining her ears, but not another sound could be heard. Whatever had fallen or been knocked down had made a great noise. Obviously, some one was in the conservatory.