"The library glass door?"
The housekeeper looked disconcerted.
"It went clean out of my mind, sure enough."
"Ha! That is how the watch was placed at my door."
"Good gracious! A watch at your door?"
"The colonel's sleuth-hound."
The housekeeper unlocked the door, rushed out, and went straight to Colonel Brand.
"Well, my good woman, you look disturbed," said that amiable thug, taking his cigar out of his mouth to blow a spiral curl of smoke at her; "have you been with Miss Walsingham, and is she as wild in her manner as she was last evening when I had the honor of escorting you both home from your walk?"
"Worse, sir, far worse; she's out of her mind complete as you may say. And she's had a dreadful fright through the night."
"Ah! What is that?"