He cursed and swore; once again he was full of hate for the murderess, a hate whetted keener by the rancor of a man rebuffed; he was even considering the horrible plan of returning to the station and giving an alarm, when he heard an outcry some way off. It came from higher up the road and from a hollow in it which probably hid the carriage from his eyes. The noise of its wheels had suddenly ceased. He ran towards it, came to the top of the slope, and saw the two lamps. But even as he caught sight of them he saw them swing right round. The carriage went off; there was no longer the quiet sound of a horse’s trotting but the clatter of a galloping horse, lashed to its utmost speed. Two minutes later Ralph, guided by his cries, discovered the figure of a man lying among the brambles by the side of the road. “What’s the matter? Who are you?” cried Ralph. “A doctor from Romillaud. The police told me to come to the railway station.” “What’s the matter. Has some one attacked you?” “Yes; a man on foot who asked me the way. I pulled up, and he sprang up on to the box, got me by the throat, half-strangled me, tied me up, and threw me among the bushes!” “And did he go off with your carriage?” asked Ralph. “Yes.” “Alone?” “No, with some one else, who came running up the road—just as I was able to cry out a bit,” said the doctor. “Was it a man, or a woman?” questioned Ralph, though he was very sure which it was. “I could not see. They only said a few words, and those in a whisper. Directly they went off I started shouting.” Ralph set about dragging him out of the brambles. Then he said: “So he didn’t gag you?” “Oh, yes; he did, but not successfully.” “What with?” “With my silk scarf. “There is a right way of gagging, but very few people know it,” said Ralph. He snatched the scarf from the doctor and set about showing him that right way of gagging people. That lesson was followed by another operation, that of a much more effective tying up, with the horse-rug and halter that William had employed for the purpose. It was impossible to doubt that William had been the doctor’s assailant and that the girl had stumbled across him in her flight. “I’m not hurting you, am I, doctor? I should be frightfully sorry if I was,” said Ralph. “At any rate I’ll find you a more comfortable place than among these brambles and nettles,” he added, picking his prisoner up and carrying him deeper among the bushes. “Look, here’s a place you won’t find too uncomfortable to spend the night in. The moss is thick and dry here. No, no: don’t thank me—not a word. Believe me that if I could have helped it——” His intention, at the moment, was to run after the two fugitives and catch them at any cost. He was furious at having been so balked. He must have been a fool! What! He had her in his claws and instead of wringing her neck he had amused himself by kissing her! How can one keep one’s mind clear under such conditions?