"Right. Good-by."
The tone of his voice, though he tried to keep it casual, was such as to bring Major Adams popping out of the library.
"Anything up, old chap?"
"That was the Fanes' cook. There's a burglar in the house. I'm going over there now.'.'
The major's eyes gleamed.
"Is there, by Jove? Need any help?"
"No, thanks. I can manage."
The major was depressed. But he was sportsman enough to see that this was the other fellow's shot.
'Take a mack from the hatrack. Wait here. Back in half a second. Know just what you want."
He darted upstairs. He returned lovingly carrying a three-thirty express rifle which, at a conservative estimate, would have stopped a charging tiger at five hundred yards.