'Hung! Don't talk about hanging. You make a cold shiver go down my back. You haven't--killed her?'
'Killed her? You innocent! She's the sort who take a deal of killing. My good chap, when she comes to, she'll curse a little and go on generally; but she'll forgive me in the end. I know her; she's a dear!'
While the three men stood looking down at the unconscious woman, there came a knocking at the outer door.
CHAPTER XV
[AN HONOURABLE RETREAT]
It was not what they expected. Their faces showed it; they were so unmistakably startled. They looked at each other, then at the unconscious woman, then back again at one another. Mr Burton bit his lip.
'Who the deuce is that?'
'Servants, perhaps.'
The suggestion was the Flyman's.
'Then confound the servants! Why can't they take a little extra time to-night? They know their mistress is away.'