Mrs. Chudleigh left him, and in another few minutes Mrs. Foster declared that she must go, while as they walked towards the staircase Mrs. Keith came up to Blake.
"Well?" she asked in an anxious tone.
Blake smiled at her. "I think we needn't fear any further trouble."
Admiration shone in Margaret Keith's eyes. "It's a great relief, though I knew the worst danger was over when you came home. None of the Challoners ever did so fine a thing, Dick."
She went by before he could answer and he turned back into the gallery while the others descended to the hall. Standing near a window, he saw Foster's car speed down the drive; then the hoot of the horn reached him from the corner by the lodge, and there was silence again. It was broken a few minutes later by a beat of hoofs, and Blake, looking out, saw Challoner dismount.
"Where did you get to, Dick?" the Colonel asked when his nephew went down to meet him. "I saw you close behind the hounds for a time, but you disappeared and nobody seemed to know what had become of you."
"I had a good run," Blake said, smiling. "Then I dropped out and rode home across country. I remembered that there was something I had to do."
"It must have been something important to take you off the field when the hounds were running as they were then."
"I thought the matter needed attention," Blake rejoined, lighting a cigar.