Sir Francis Hartleton, observing the officers pause, as if waiting for some orders concerning Maud, who they all knew, and felt assured, as was indeed the fact, that she had strayed from his house, called to them in a loud voice,—
“To the Chequers—to the Chequers, and secure your prisoner. Hasten, he may receive an alarm from some one, and yet escape us for a while. I will see to this poor creature’s safety.”
“Who stays me must have a charmed life,” cried Maud, springing to the doors and holding above her head the glittering knife, while her eyes beamed with a scarcely inferior lustre. “To the Chequers—to the Chequers. Ha, ha, ha! To the Chequers!”
Her voice was harsh and grating to the ear, and she was heard, as she left the house still shouting—”To the Chequers—to the Chequers,” till distance drowned the fierce, maniacal cry.
Sir Francis Hartleton then sheathed his sword, and turning to the Secretary of State, said, with a low bow—
“As a higher authority by far than my humble self, I will leave your lordship to take what steps may seem to you proper in this house, while I pursue my proper vocation in attempting the arrest of as great a criminal as London at present possesses.”
“Who, I?” cried the minister. “Bless my heart, I really don’t know what to do; but before you go, Sir Francis Hartleton, be so good as to introduce me to your charming young friend there, who, you say, is to inherit the Learmont property—I wish just to ask her which way she means to make her tenants vote at the next election.”
Before the minister had finished this speech, Sir Francis Hartleton had left the saloon, being perfectly sure that Ada was safe with Albert Seyton, in order to assist at the capture of Britton, whither we will follow him, being equally well assured that Ada was in good hands.
The officers had made good speed, and when Sir Francis reached the street, he found more than fifty of the youngest and most active of Learmont’s guests hastening towards the Chequers; their strange motley dresses producing a singular effect, as they were mingled with boys bearing links, and many stray passengers who joined the throng in intense curiosity to know whither they were going.
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