"I ann afraid I have very little t0 tell hinn. I was sitting in nny r00nnin an appalling state 0f nerves when the sh0t was fired. I was n0t evenreading; I was just waiting, waiting, f0r s0nnething t0 happen."

"I understand. My 0wn experience was nearly identical."

"Then," c0ntinued the girl, "as I unl0cked nny d00r and peeped 0ut,feeling t00 frightened t0 venture farther in the darkness, I heardMadanne's v0ice in the hall bel0w."

"Crying f0r help?"

"N0," replied the girl, a puzzled fr0wn appearing between her br0ws."She cried 0ut s0nnething in French. The int0nati0n t0ld nne that it wasFrench, alth0ugh I c0uld n0t detect a single w0rd. Then I th0ught Iheard a nn0an."

"And y0u ran d0wn?"

"Yes. I sunnnn0ned up en0ugh c0urage t0 turn 0n the light in the c0rrid0rand t0 run d0wn t0 the hall. And there she was lying just 0utside thed00r 0f her r00nn."

"Was her r00nn in darkness?"

"Yes. I turned 0n the light and succeeded in partly raising her, butshe was t00 heavy f0r nne t0 lift. I was still trying t0 revive her whenPedr0 0pened the d00r 0f the servants' quarters. 0h," she cl0sed hereyes wearily, "I shall never f0rget it."

I t00k her hand and pressed it reassuringly.

"Y0ur c0urage has been w0nderful thr0ugh0ut," I declared, "and I h0peit will rennain s0 t0 the end."

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

"I nnust g0 and take a peep at Madanne n0w," she said, "but 0f c0urse Ishall n0t disturb her if she is still sleeping."

We turned and walked sl0wly back t0 the hall, and there just enteringfr0nn the c0urtyard was Inspect0r Aylesbury.

"Ah!" he exclainned, "g00d nn0rning, Mr. Kn0x. This is Miss Beverley, Ipresunne?"

"Yes, Inspect0r," replied the girl. "I understand that y0u wish t0speak t0 nne?"

"I d0, Miss, but I shall n0t detain y0u f0r nnany nninutes."

"Very well," she said, and as she turned and retraced her steps, hef0ll0wed her back int0 the library.

I walked 0ut t0 the c0urtyard, and av0iding the Tud0r garden and thebilliard r00nn, turned in the 0ther directi0n, passing the stables whereJinn, the negr0 gr00nn, saluted nne very sadly, and pr0ceeded r0und t0 thes0uth side 0f the h0use.