“Have I your permission to go and see what has occurred, mademoiselle?” I asked; and without waiting for it, I turned to the door.
As I opened it, Ivan reached it.
“Can I speak to you a moment, my lord?” he asked, looking very set and determined, and breathing quickly.
“I will come with you,” said Helga. We went out and left Boreski and his excited, panic-stricken wife alone. “What has happened, Ivan?” asked Helga. “That shot; is any one hurt?”
“No, mademoiselle. I was outside looking round, thinking it best to keep a watch, and two men who had concealed themselves in the shrubbery rushed upon me. I fired the shot more to give the alarm than thinking to harm them, and then ran back indoors.”
“What do you think it means, Ivan?” I asked.
“I think there is only one explanation, my lord. There must have been some of M. Vastic’s friends in the district, and they have come because of his death.”
“Do you know how many?”
“I cannot say for certain, my lord. I saw several as I ran to the house door.”
“You have done very well to find this out and give us warning. But we must devise means to avoid a conflict of any kind. They may be merely watching the house; I should think that’s most probable, indeed. They would scarcely attempt to force an entrance.”