Doctor Unonius hurried out to the passage. There he all but ran into Mrs Tresize, who came downstairs, lamp in hand and fully dressed as before. As before, too, she was entirely composed in manner.
'I will open,' she said. 'Go back and put the other gun away quickly, the pistol too. Keep the one in your hand if you will, and come back to me while I pretend to draw the bolts. No, please don't argue. It will be all right if you do as I say.'
She appeared so very sure of herself that, against his will, the doctor obeyed.
'Pretend to draw the bolts?' he kept muttering. Had the door been unbarred, then, all this while?
She was opening it, at any rate, when he returned to the passage. But before lifting the latch she demanded, as if upon second thought,—
'Who is there? And what is your business?'
'Mr Rattenbury,' answered a loud voice. 'You shall know my business fast enough if you will kindly open.'
Without more ado she flung the door wide, and the ray of her lamp fell upon Mr Rattenbury, the young riding-officer, cloaked, high-booted, and spurred.
'A strange business it must be, sir,' said the widow, 'that brings you hammering up sick folk at this time of night!'
'Sick folk, eh?' said the riding-master, with a brusque laugh. 'Sick folk don't usually sit up till past two in the morning ready dressed. Hadn't we better stow that kind of talk, ma'am?'