"Their chief is here now, and of course his orders go before mine. Besides, after what you have told me, I consider there ought to be a thorough search," added Mr. Ravensworth.
"In opposition to Lord Level?"
"I think that Lord Level has not taken a sufficiently serious view of the case. The only solution I can come to is, that some escaped madman got into the house before it was closed for the night, and concealed himself in it. If so, he may be in it now."
"Now! In it now!" she exclaimed, turning pale.
"Upon my word, I think it may be so. The doors and windows were all found safely fastened, you see. Therefore he could not escape during the night. And since the doors were opened this morning, the household, I take it, has been so constantly on the alert, that it might be an extremely difficult matter for him to get away unseen. If he, this madman, did enter yesterday evening, he must have found some place of concealment and hidden himself in it for hours, since it was not until one o'clock that he made the attack on Lord Level."
"Oh, Arnold, that is all too improbable," she rejoined doubtingly. "A madman could not plan and do all that."
"Madmen are more cunning than sane ones, sometimes."
"But I—I think it was a woman," said Lady Level, lowering her voice and her eyes.
Mr. Ravensworth looked at her. And for the first time, a feeling flashed into his mind that Lady Level had some suspicion which she would not speak of.
"Blanche," he said sharply, "do you know who it was? Tell me, if you do."