It was Colina who lit a lamp and carried it out into the hall with a steady hand. Ambrose was seen to be uppermost. Recognizing the two men her face darkened with anger.
"What does this mean?" she cried. "Get up instantly!"
Ambrose wrenched himself free and stood up.
"Don't let him escape!" cried Strange.
Ambrose laughed a single note.
"He tried to kill your father!" panted Strange. "I arrived in the nick of time!"
Ambrose gasped and fell back in astonishment. Such stupendous effrontery was beyond the scope of his imagination.
"It's a lie!" he cried. "It was I who discovered him in the act of strangling your father!"
Then for the first Colina swayed. "Oh, God!" she murmured, "have we all gone mad!"
Macfarlane seized the lamp from her failing hand. Colina ran unevenly into her father's room. They heard her cry out within. Giddings ran to her aid. He made a light in the room and closed the door. The little parson moaned and wrung his hands.