"Mr Frank Morrison, sir," said the man, who looked rather scared at seeing her ladyship sink upon a couch, where Sir Humphrey began to fan her. "What the deuce does he want?" grumbled Dick. "Hullo, Frank! I was coming to see you about that row with our Renee. Gertrude wrote and told me." "My wife here?" said Morrison, who was a good deal excited by wine. "What, Renee? No!" "Damn!" cried the young husband, dropping upon a chair, and looking from one to the other. "Something fresh, then?" cried Dick, growing excited. "Here, why the devil don't you speak, man?" "Yes, yes! why don't you speak?" cried Lady Millet piteously. "Oh, Frank dear, what news? Have you seen Gertrude?" "No," he said thickly. "I want Renee." "Where is she? Speak, I conjure you!" cried her ladyship. "Don't know," said Morrison, glancing round. "Haven't been home for days. Went home this afternoon. Had some words and came away again." "Well, well, go on! I saw you playing billiards at the club." "Yes," said Morrison, whose brain was clouded with days of excess. "Went home again just now. Going to make it up, and she'd gone. Where is she? Want her directly." Dick stood thinking for a few moments, while her ladyship looked at him as if imploring him to speak. "She's in it, p'raps," he said. "Look here, Frank, can you understand me, or have you got D.T. too bad?" "Yes, I understand," said the young man thickly. "Gertrude's gone away. We think your wife must be in the plot." "No," said Morrison slowly, as he gave his head a shake to clear it, and stood up angry and fierce, while the others hung upon his words as being likely to dispel their fears. "No, poor girl! too much trouble. I'm a villain," he groaned, "and I struck her to-night; but--but," he cried excitedly, "she deceived me. Gone with Malpas. She's false as hell!" "It's a lie!" cried Dick fiercely. "Here, father, see to my mother. It's a lie, I say; and you, Frank Morrison, you're a cad to dare to-- Ah!" said the lad, uttering a shrill cry, and he had just time to drive up a pistol as it exploded, and save his brother-in-law's brains from being scattered on the wall. Then there was a fierce struggle, as Frank Morrison strove to direct the revolver at his temples once more, and Dick fought with him bravely till overpowered; but two of the frightened servants ran in, and with their help the madman was secured and held down till the arrival of the nearest doctor, a messenger having been also sent for Dr Stonor, who arrived a couple of hours later; and between them the excitement of the would-be suicide was somewhat allayed, though he was still half mad.