“The first scream,” Reggie murmured.
“And then the lights went out. I ran away and tumbled over that chair and then out into the passage. I kept bumping into things and it was horrid. And then—oh, somebody caught hold of me and I screamed——”
“The second scream,” Reggie murmured.
“I was sort of flung about. There were men there fighting in the dark. Horrid. Hitting all round me, you know. And then—oh, well, I suppose I stopped one, didn’t I?”
There was a tap at the door. “May I come in, doctor?” said Alice Beach.
“Oh, Alice, have they caught anyone?”
“Not a creature. Isn’t it awful? Oh, Sally, you poor darling,” her sister embraced her. “What a shame! Is it bad?”
“I’m all muddled. And jolly sore.”
“My dear! It is too bad it should be you. Oh, Mr. Fortune, what did happen?”
“Some fellow knocked her out. She’ll be all right in the morning. But keep her quiet and get her off to sleep.” He went to the window. It was open and the curtains blowing in the wind. He looked out. A ladder stood against the wall. “And that’s that. Yes. Put her to bed, Mrs. Beach.”