t edging of grey round the green blind which darkened my
room. It was evident that the knocking and ringing were at the door of
our own house; and it was evident, too, that there was no one awake to
answer the call. I slipped on my dressing-gown and slippers, and went
down to the hall door. When I opened it there stood a dapper groom,
with one hand pressed unflinchingly on the electric bell whilst with
the other he raised a ceaseless clangour with the knocker. The instant
he saw me the noise ceased; one hand went up instinctively to the brim
of his hat, and the other produced a letter from his pocket. A neat
brougham was opposite the door, the horses were breathing heavily as
though they had come fast. A policeman, with his night lantern still
alight at his belt, stood by, attracted to the spot by the noise.

"Beg pardon, sir, I'm sorry for disturbing you, but my orders was
imperative; I was not to lose a moment, but to knock and ring till
someone came. May I ask you, sir, if Mr. Malcolm Ross lives here?"

"I am Mr. Malcolm Ross."

"Then this letter is for you, sir, and the bro'am is for you too, sir!"

I took, with a strange curiosity, the letter which he handed to me. As
a barrister I had had, of course, odd experiences now and then,
including sudden demands upon my time; but never anything like this. I
stepped back into the hall, closing the door to, but leaving it ajar;
then I switched on the electric light. The letter was directed in a
strange hand, a woman's. It began at once without "dear sir" or any
such address:

"You said you would like to help me if I needed it; and I believe you
meant what you said. The time has come sooner than I expected. I am
in dreadful trouble, and do not know where to turn, or to whom to
apply. An attempt has, I fear, been made to murder my Father; though,
thank God, he still lives. But he is quite unconscious. The doctors
and police have been sent for; but there is no one here whom I can
depend on. Come at once if you are able to; and forgive me if you can.
I suppose I shall realise later what I have done in asking such a
favour; but at present I cannot think. Come! Come at once! MARGARET
TRELAWNY."

Pain and exultation struggled in my mind as I read; but the mastering
thought was that she was in trouble and had called on me--me! My
dreaming of her, then, was not altogether without a cause. I called
out to the groom:

"Wait! I shall be with you in a minute!"