e what's going on outside,' Hamilton said. He sprang to open
the door.

'Wait a moment,' Ericson said quietly. 'Let us see if that is all. There
may be another. Don't rush, Hamilton, please. Take your time.' The
Dictator was cool and composed.

'Gunpowder?' Hamilton asked.

'No, no--dynamite. You go and look after Sarrasin, Hamilton; I'll take
charge of the house and see what this really comes to.'

And so, with the composure of a man to whom nothing in the way of action
is quite new or disturbing, he opened the door and went out into the
corridor. All the lights that were anywhere burning had been blown out.
Servants, men and women, were rushing distractedly downstairs, those who
slept above; those who slept below were rushing distractedly upstairs.
It was a confused scene of night-shirts and night-dresses.

Ericson seized one stout footman, whom he knew well by sight and by
name: 'Look here, Frederick,' he said quietly, 'don't spread any
alarm--the worst is over. Turn on all the lights you can, and get
someone to saddle a horse at once--no, to put a bridle on the
horse--never mind the saddle--and in the meanwhile guard the house-doors
and see that no one goes out, except me. I want to get the horse. Do you
understand all this? Have you your senses about you?'

The man was plucky enough, and took his tone readily from Ericson's
calm, subdued way. He recognised a leader. He had all the courage of
Tommy Atkins, and all Tommy Atkins's daring, and only wanted leadership:
only lead him and he was all right. He could follow.

'Yes, your Excellency, I think I do. Lights on; horse bridled; no one
allowed out but you.'

'Right,' Ericson answered; 'you are a brave fellow.'

In a moment Helena came from her room, fully dressed--that is to say,
fully robed, in the dressing-gown wherein the Duchess had seen her, with
white cheeks but resolute face.

'Oh! thank God _you_ are safe,' she exclaimed. 'What is it? Where is my
father?'

Just at the moment Sir Rupert came out of his room, plunging,
staggering, but undismayed, and even then not forgetful of his position
as a Secretary of State.

'Here is your father, Heaven be praised!' Ericson exclaimed. 'Sir
Rupert, I am an unlucky guest! I have brought all this on you!'

Helena threw herself on her father's neck. He clasped her tenderly,
looking over her shoulder to Ericson as if he were putting her carefully
for the moment out of the way. 'It _is_ dynamite, Ericson?'