“How on earth should I know,” Faulks mumbled, still feeling his face as he peered at the girl. “When Miss Winslow screamed, I ran up. It was dark, of course. Some men caught hold of me. I struck out and they set on me. I was knocked down. I wish you would look at my eye, Fortune.”
Reggie was looking at Sally, whose face had begun to twitch.
“Your eye will be a merry colour to-morrow,” Cosdon assured him. “But who hit Sally?”
“It was the fellows who set upon me, I suppose, of course; they were attacking her when I rescued her.”
“Stout fellow,” said Cosdon. “How many were there?”
“Quite a number. Quite. How can I possibly tell? It was dark. Quite a number.”
Sally tried to sneeze and failed, opened her eyes and murmured, “The light, the light.” She saw the men about her and began to laugh hysterically.
“Good God, the scoundrels may be in the house still,” cried Tom Beach. “Come on, Cosdon.”
“I should say so,” said Captain Cosdon, but he lingered over Sally. “All right now?” he asked anxiously.
“Oh, Bunny,” she choked in her laughter. “Yes, yes, I’m all right. Oh, Mr. Fortune, what is it? Oh, poor Mr. Faulks, what has happened?”