“You must leave us,” said Isabel; “come back later.”

“Then when we have searched the garden-house—why, what is it?”

A look of such anguish had come into their faces that he stopped amazed.

“The garden-house!” cried Mary; “no, no, no!”

“No, no, Hubert, Hubert!” cried Isabel, “you must not go there.”

“Why,” he said, “it was I that proposed it; to draw them from the house.”

There came from beneath the windows a sudden tramp of footsteps, and then Nichol’s voice, distinctly heard through the open panes.

“We cannot wait for him. Come, men.”

“They are going without me,” said Hubert; and turned and ran through the door.

[CHAPTER XI]