ibrary. Spencer drew his
host a little on one side.

"What a rotten liar you are, George!" he said. "I don't think that even
Runton was taken in."

"I suppose it sounded a little thin," Duncombe answered coolly. "Put it
this way, then, so far as you are concerned. The shriek occurred in my
house. I've no explanation to offer to anybody."

"I like the sound of that better, Duncombe," he remarked. "Hullo! What's
the matter with Runton?"

Lord Runton was calling to them.

"You've had a visitor who was in a hurry, old chap!" he remarked. "Send
for a lantern."

Duncombe concealed his annoyance.

"I don't want to alarm the whole household," he said. "I've a little
electric torch in my study. I'll fetch that."

He brought it out. The progress of a man from the road to the small
window, towards which Duncombe glanced every now and then
apprehensively, was marked by much destruction. The intruder had
effected his exit either in great haste or in a singularly unfortunate
manner. He had apparently missed the gate, which at this point was only
a small hand one, and in clambering over the fence he had broken the
topmost strand of wire. He had blundered into a bed of wallflowers,
which were all crushed and downtrodden, and snapped off a rose tree in
the middle. Below the window were distinct traces of footmarks. Lord
Runton, who held the torch, was becoming excited.

"Duncombe," he said, "there is something which I have not told you yet.
I have had numerous reports in about the car, and was able to trace it
as far as Lynn, but they all agreed in saying that it contained only two
persons--the driver and the man who called himself Fielding. What became
of the girl?"

"I have no idea," Duncombe answered steadily.

"Of course not," Lord Runton continued, "but don't you think it possible
that--without your knowledge, of course--she may be hidden somewhere
about here? That cry was not like the cry of a housemaid. Let us have
the whole place searched."

Duncombe shrugged his shoulders.

"As you will," he answered. "I am certain, however, that it will be
useless. There is no place here where any one could hide."

"Your servants may know something," Runton suggested.

"I have already questioned them," Duncombe answered.

"Come along, Mr. Spencer," Lord Runton exclaimed, "let us search the
grounds."

Spencer shook his head.

"Waste of time, Lord Runton," he answered. "If you really want to
discover the whereabouts of t