"Don't kill him in cold blood!"
Then there came the click of a pistol lock followed by a deafening report, and a bullet struck the step I was lying on about an inch from my temple. There was a scuffling of feet on the stairs above, mingled with words of remonstrance in German; the two men were hurrying Saumarez away.
The report and the impact of the bullet had half stunned me, but I sat up, and my hands being free, tore the gag out of my mouth. At the same time, rapid footsteps came up the stairs, and, in a few moments, I found a very familiar face, with an absolutely astounded expression on it looking down into mine.
"In Heaven's name!" a well-known voice cried, "what are you doing here,
Bill?"
It was my cousin, Lord St. Nivel, a subaltern in the Coldstream Guards!
CHAPTER VII
CRUFT'S FOLLY
Looking over my cousin's shoulders were two other faces, one covered with rough hair, and evidently belonging to a game-keeper, the other the beautiful face of my cousin, Lady Ethel Vanborough, St. Nivel's sister.
"Poor fellow!" she remarked sympathetically. "What have they been doing to you?"
I could hardly believe my eyes, and passed my hand wearily across my forehead.