ended. Carne dashed aside the curtain, and was nearly through the
window, when two white arms were cast round his waist. He threw himself
forward with all his might, and wrenched at the little hands clasped
around him, but they held together like clenched iron. "Will you force
me to kill you?" "You may, if you like"--was the dialogue of these
lovers.

The strength of a fit was in her despair. She set her bent knees against
the window-frame, and a shower of glass fell between them; but she
flinched not from her convulsive grasp. "Let me come back, that I may
shoot myself," Carne panted, for his breath was straitened; "what is
life to me after losing you?" She made no answer, but took good care
not to release so fond a lover. Then he threw himself back with all his
weight, and she fell on the floor beneath him. Her clasp relaxed, and
he was free; for her eyes had encountered her father's blood, and she
swooned away, and lay as dead.

Carne arose quickly, and bolted the door. His breath was short, and his
body trembling, but the wits of the traitor were active still. "I must
have something to show for all this," he thought as he glanced at the
bodies on the floor. "Those revellers may not have heard this noise. I
know where it is now, and I will get it."

But the sound of the pistol, and shriek of the girl, had rung through
the guests, when the wine was at their lips, and all were nodding to one
another. Faith sprang up, and then fell back trembling, and several men
ran towards the door. Charles, the footman, met them there, with his
face whiter than his napkin, and held up his hands, but could not speak.
Erle Twemlow dashed past him and down the passage; and Lord Southdown
said: "Gentlemen, see to the ladies. There has been some little mishap,
I fear. Bob, and Arthur, come with me."

Twemlow was first at the study door, and finding it fastened, struck
with all his force, and shouted, at the very moment when Carne stood
before the true desk of office. "Good door, and good bolt," muttered
Carne; "my rule is never to be hurried by noises. Dolly will be quiet
for a quarter of an hour, and the old gentleman forever. All I want is
about two minutes."

Twemlow stepped back a few yards, and then with a good start delivered a
rushing kick; but the only result was a jar of his leg through the sole
of his thin dress sandal.

"The window!" cried the Marquis. "We'll stop here; you know the house;
take the shortest cut to the w