She put her hands over her eyes, and shivered.
"Who is with you, Miss Julia? You must not remain here another moment. You know walls have ears and eyes, even at this hour of the night. Who came with you?"
"No one; who could come with me? But you! You must not stay here tonight. Perhaps he came and found you were out. He will return, Promise me!"
Before he could answer they heard a sound which each knew; the pounding hoofs of a horse ridden at full speed.
"It is he!" gasped Julia, her face colourless as marble. "It is too late!"
The hard-ridden horse stopped below with a crash and a rattle of small stones.
"Courage!" whispered John, leaning towards the girl. "Trust me; all will be well!"
Turning the lamp low, he quickly bore it into the front office and placed it upon his desk there in a far corner of the room. In an instant he was by her side again and had her hand in his, and even in the peril of that moment he felt her clinging to him, and his heart exulted. The apartment was now in almost total darkness.
"Come!" he whispered, and opening the stair door wide he led her out into the passage, and down it for a dozen feet. Here not a ray of light came, but he placed her behind him, holding her hand all the while in a close grasp. There was a heavy step below—a stumble—a muttered curse.
"He has nerved himself with whiskey!" was the low message Glenning sent over his shoulder, "Be perfectly quiet; there is nothing to fear."