"We have callers," I observed, doing my best to keep my voice calm. "Who are they, Brutus?"
Brutus, however, had forgotten me, and had sprung into the hall. At almost the same instant, someone must have discovered that the door was unlocked, for a sudden draught eddied through the passage. Then there was a confused babel of voices, to which I did not listen. I was busy swinging up the sash of the nearest window.
"Quickly, Mademoiselle!" I whispered.
"Damn it!" someone shouted from the hall. "There's another of 'em!" And there came the crack of a pistol that echoed loudly in the passage.
"It is time we were going," I said. "Out of the window, Mademoiselle!"
In my haste I almost pushed her from the sill to the lawn, and was leaning towards her.
"Mademoiselle, listen! The stables are straight to the left. Can you saddle a horse?"
She nodded.
"The first stall to the right. I shall be there in an instant!" For I remembered my sword, and sprang back into the room to get it.
"Get that man!" someone was shouting. "In after him, you fools! Don't shoot in the dark!"