“It must be some one who knows the place and all about our arrangements.”
“Yes,” said Dick; “but come and let’s question the doctor’s patients.”
“The doctor’s patient? What would Hulton know?”
“No, no; his fresh patients—the two servants.”
“What! do you think they were in it?”
“They were in it, certainly,” said Dick sadly. “The poor fellows were badly stabbed.”
“But I saw them sleeping before I came to you.”
“Yes; but I found them both lying outside the door weltering in their blood. I have an idea—but come along.”
They passed together to where the men were lying freshly bandaged by the doctor, Ram Dad being sensible and able to explain what had happened.
“A dacoit, sahibs,” he said firmly. “Come up by the stairs, and we tried to stop him; but he was naked and covered with oil, and, though we tried hard to hold him, he struck us both with his knife, and ran through the room, to climb up the side of the window and on to the top.”