rden gate by this time, where, to
my infinite relief, we were joined by Gerald, flushed and triumphant
after winning his match.

After an agonised aside "Don't ask about Jack," I murmured an
introduction, and we all walked up to the house together. In the hall I
managed to tell Gerald of our dreadful position, and implored him to
humour the madman as much as possible until we could form some plan for
his capture.

"We'll give him dinner just as if nothing has happened, and after that
I'll arrange something," said Gerald hopefully; "don't you worry."

[Sidenote: A Knife Trick]

Never shall I forget that dinner! We were on tenterhooks the whole time,
and it made me shudder to see how Mr. Marriott caressed the knives. I
could scarcely prevent myself screaming when he held one up, and,
feeling the blade carefully with his finger, said:

"I rather thought of doing this little trick to-night, if you would like
it; it is very convincing and doesn't take long."

I remembered his remark, "it was all over in a moment," and trembled;
but Gerald tactfully drew his attention to something else, and dinner
proceeded peaceably; but he had a horrible fondness for that knife, and,
when dessert was put on the table, kept it in his hand, "to show us the
trick afterwards."

I stayed in the dining-room when we had finished; I couldn't bear to
leave Gerald, and he and I exchanged apprehensive glances when Mr.
Marriott refused to smoke, giving as his reason that he wanted a steady
hand for his work later.

He worried ceaselessly about his bag (I began to think the revolver must
be there), and when, at last, it came he almost ran into the hall to
open it.

Then Gerald had a brilliant inspiration. Seizing the bag, he carried it
up to his room, which was at the top of the house. Mr. Marriott eagerly
followed, and when he was safely in we shut the door and bolted it
securely on the outside.

"That was a good move, Gerald," I cried, heaving a sigh of relief, "we
can keep him there till mother and father come home; they can't be very
long now; perhaps he won't notice he's locked in for some time."

But unfortunately he _did_ notice, for very soon we heard him rattling
the door handle, and when no one came (for we had had to explain matters
to the maids, whereat they had all rushed, panic-stricken, to the
servants' hall), he started banging and shouting louder than ever.

It was an awful time for us; every minute I expected him to burs