"Yes, yes! And it was a tramp—you are sure of that—a common robber—who attacked him?"
"Evidently. His pockets were turned inside out—his watch was gone."
"There was a day when no one man would have dared to attack my son."
"There may have been two men. The ground was a good deal trampled, the keeper told me; but they would be able to see very little by the light of a couple of lanterns brought from the stables to the north lodge. We shall see the footsteps, and be able to come to a better idea of the struggle, to-morrow morning."
"Send for a London detective—the best that can be got," Lady Emily interrupted eagerly.
"Be sure we will do all that can be done."
"He has no father to take his part," she went on, distractedly; "no wife—no sweetheart even—to care for him—only a poor, weak mother. If he should die, there will be only one broken heart in the world—only one——"
"Dear lady, why anticipate the worst?" remonstrated the doctor.
"Yes, yes, I am wrong. I must cast myself upon God's mercy. I am not an irreligious woman. I will pray for my son. There is nothing else in the world that I can do. But while I am praying you will work—you will find the wretch who did this cruel deed. You will send for the cleverest doctor in London—the one man of all men who can cure my poor boy."
"You may trust me, Lady Emily. Nothing shall be forgotten or deferred."