"No doubt," explained the medical man. "Miss Ellis has been rendered insensible and then was robbed of the key. But who----"
"How did Maud come to be here at this hour?" demanded Tait savagely. "Go for the police, some of you," he shouted, stamping furiously. "I'm not going to lose a fortune in this way."
"It's useless; the thieves have escaped," cried a voice at the end of the gallery, and George bounded in at the open door.
"Walker," cried the stockbroker, recoiling. "What are you doing here? What do you know about this?"
"I came downstairs and heard the thieves at work," explained George quickly. "I tried to lay hands on them, but tumbled over the body of a woman on the floor, and----"
"It is Miss Ellis," said the young doctor, looking up. "Do you know how she came to be here?"
George hesitated. He could not--for the sake of Maud's reputation--say that she had appointed a meeting with him, and did not know how to explain.
Tait noted his momentary hesitation, and turned on him furiously. "How do you come to be here?" he demanded. "What makes you wander about my house when everyone is in bed?"
"Ah," said Mr. Hale, pushing his way through the frightened crowd, "that is very suspicious. Speak out, Walker!"
"I heard a noise and came down," cried George, making the first excuse which entered his head.