"Tita is down there with Tom," says Miss Hescott, pointing to the far end of the long, dimly-lit gallery. "Do you want to see murder done?"
"Not much," says Gower. "But—how am I to prevent it?"
"Don't you know what you must do?" says she energetically. "Those idiots downstairs have forsaken us. Run up the room as quick as you can—past Sir Maurice—and pretend you are the one who is hunting. I'll go for Tom. If we make a regular bustle, Sir Maurice won't think so much about our little game as he does now. Did you see his face?"
"I saw fireworks," says Mr. Gower. Then, "I'm off," says he.
He slips out from behind the screen, and galloping up the room comes to the screen very nearly as soon as Rylton. Not soon enough, however. Rylton has turned the corner of it, and found Tita with Tom Hescott crouching behind it, whispering together, and evidently enjoying themselves immensely.
As she sees him, Tita gives a little cry. She had plainly taken him for one of the hunters, and had hoped he would pass by.
"Oh, you!" cries she. "You! Go away. Go at once! They'll find us if——"
She waves him frantically from her. He is too angry to see that there is not a vestige of embarrassment in her air.
Here Gower comes up panting.
"Caught!" cries he, making a pounce of Tita.