“Not been to bed all night, Preenham?” said the old lawyer, who had followed. “Did you let him out last night?”
“No, sir.”
“Then how can he have gone out? I saw that the door was fastened after you had gone to bed, and it was still fastened when I came down at six.”
“And at seven too, sir,” said the butler.
“He must be in the house,” said Artis. “Go and look round.”
“Is Mr Capel ill?” said Katrine.
“No, no, my dear, I think not,” said the old lawyer. “I’ll go, too, and see.”
“It is very strange,” said Katrine, turning to Lydia, who looked ashy pale. “I hope nothing is the matter, dear.”
She seemed so calm that Lydia took courage and returned to the breakfast-table, while, followed by the old lawyer and Preenham, Artis examined the dining-room and study, then ascended to the first floor, tried the Colonel’s door, found it fast, and went on into the drawing-room.
“I tried that door,” he said grimly, “because that is the chamber of horrors.”