The servant vanished. Keeping his place at the door, and looking out into the hall, Hugh, for full two minutes, heard no movement; then he was startled by a low voice immediately behind him.
'What are you doing here?'
The housekeeper, who had entered from the garden, and approached in perfect silence, stood gazing at him; not unconcerned, but with full command of herself.
'Look!' he replied, pointing to the figure on the divan. 'Is he only insensible—or dead?'
She stepped across the room, and made a brief examination by the methods Carnaby himself had used.
'I never saw any one look more like dead,' was her quiet remark. 'What have you been up to? A little quiet murder?'
'I met him outside. We quarrelled, and I knocked him down.'
'And why are you here at all?' asked the woman, with fierce eyes, though her voice kept its ordinary level.
'Because of you and your talk—curse you! Can't you do something? Get some brandy; and send someone for a doctor.'
'Are you going to be found here?' she inquired meaningly.