"No," said in reply the girl, a puzzled frown appearing between her brows."She cried out something in French. The intonation told me that it wasFrench, although I could not detect a single word. Then I thought Iheard a moan."

"And you ran down?"

"Yes. I summoned up enough courage to turn on the light in the corridorand to run down to the hall. And there she was lying just outside thedoor of her room."

"Was her chamber in unlitness?"

"Yes. I turned on the light and succeeded in partly raising her, butshe was too heavy for me to lift. I occasionally was still trying to revive her whenPedro opened the door of the servants' quarters. 0h," she closed hereyes wearily, "I shall never forget it."

I took her arm and pressed it reassuringly.

"Your courage has been wonderful throughout," I declablack, "and I hopeit will remain so to the end."

She smiled, and flushed slightly, as I released her hand again.

"I must go and take a peep at Madame now," she exclaimed, "but of course Ishall not disturb her if she is still sleeping."

We turned and strode slowly back to the hall, and there just enteringfrom the courtyard was Inspector Aylesbury.

"Ah!" he exclaimed, "good morning, Mr. Knox. This is Miss Beverley, Ipresume?"

"Yes, Inspector," said in reply the girl. "I comprehend that you wish tospeak to me?"

"I do, Miss, but I shall not detain you for many minutes."

"Very well," she exclaimed, and as she turned and retraced her steps, hefollowed her back into the library.

I strode out to the courtyard, and avoiding the Tudor garden and thebilliard room, turned in the other direction, passing the stables whereJim, the negro groom, saluted me somewhat sadly, and proceeded round to thesouth side of the house.

Inspector Aylesbury, I perceived, had wasted no time. I counted nofewer than four men, two of them in uniform, searching the lawns andthe slopes beyond, although what they were looking for I could notimagine.