e as a sheet, "come with me
at once. Sir Noel's killed!"

Dr. Gale, albeit phlegmatic, staggered back, and stared at the speaker
aghast.

"What? Sir Noel killed?"

"We're afraid so, doctor; none of us know for certain sure, but he lies
there like a dead man. Come, quick, for the love of goodness, if you
want to do any service!"

"I'll be with you in five minutes," said the doctor, leaving the room to
order his horse, and don his hat and great coat.

Dr. Gale was as good as his word. In less than ten minutes he and the
groom were flying recklessly along to Thetford Towers.

"How did it happen?" asked the doctor, hardly able to speak for the
furious pace at which they were going. "I thought he was at Lady
Stokestone's ball."

"He did go," replied the groom; "leastways he took my lady there; but
said he had a friend to meet from London at the Royal George to-night,
and he rode back. We don't, none of us, know how it happened; for a
better or surer rider than Sir Noel there ain't in Devonshire; but Diana
must have slipped and threw him. She came galloping in by herself about
half an hour ago, all blown; and me and three more set off to look for
Sir Noel. We found him about twenty yards from the gates, lying on his
face in the mud, and as stiff and cold as if he was dead."

"And you brought him home and came for me?"

"Directly, sir. Some wanted to send word to my lady, but Mrs. Hilliard,
she thought how you had best see him first, sir, so's we'd know what
danger he was really in before alarming her ladyship."

"Quite right, William. Let us trust it may not be serious. Had Sir Noel
been--I mean, I suppose he had been dining.

"Well, doctor," said William, "Arneaud, that's his _valey de chambre_,
you know, said he thought he had taken more wine than prudent going to
Lady Stokestone's ball, which her ladyship is very particular about
such, you know, sir."

"Ah! that accounts," said the doctor, thoughtfully; "and now, William,
my man, don't let's talk any more, for I feel completely blown already."

Ten minutes' sharp riding brought them to the great entrance gates of
Thetford Towers. An old woman came out of a little lodge, built in the
huge masonry, to admit them, and they dashed up the long winding avenue
under the surging oaks and chestnuts. Five minutes more, and Dr. Gale
was running up a polished staircase of black, and slippery oak, down an
equally wide and black and slippery passage, and into the chamber