“Who’s calling?”
“I—I,” she answered. “What is it?”
“An accident. Nobody hurt.”
Following the direction of his voice, she came upon him seated on a stone, with another man standing beside him. He addressed her formally.
“Madam, do not be alarmed. There has been an accident. This gentleman is a constable. He was—er—under the impression that he ought to shoot me, and did so without waiting for explanations.”
“Oh, dear—oh....”
He interrupted again, as quickly as he could get his breath.
“I presume the shots wakened you, or, if you were not asleep, alarmed you. It was most charitable of you to run to the assistance of the wounded.”
“Wounded!”
“Slightly. One favour only—let me ask. May we come in for a moment and find out the extent of the damage? I am sure the officer will assist in binding up the wounds he has made. We will trouble you for only a few moments.”