There was a faint cry, a panting and scuffling, the word "Help!" blurred and stifled as if a hand had been suddenly clapped over the speaker's lips, and Chester mentally saw his beautiful companion of the brougham struggling violently as she was being half carried from the room. Stirred by excitement to the deepest depths, Chester rushed to her help, and was brought up sharp by the dining table, while the scuffling continued upon the other side. He felt his way along the edge, to pass round it in the darkness, but the noise he made betrayed his whereabouts, and his next step took him into the grasp of a pair of strong hands, which held him firmly, and before he could free himself, there was the sound of a door opening, a faint light showed for a moment, and before it was shut off he dimly saw the actors in the struggle; then the door was closed, and the voice of him addressed as Jem said sharply-- "Light up, Paddy." A glass was knocked from the table; someone stumbled against a chair; an angry oath followed; and then came the rattle of massive fire-irons. "Are you drunk, man?" came in the same voice. "Drunk? no! but I'm not an owl," was growled. "Ah! that's it." The cluster of incandescent lights glowed golden, and then brightened, showing the doctor that the dining table was between him and the couch where his patient lay, white and motionless; the tall, decisive man standing where he had last seen him, close to the door; a heavy-featured young fellow with a family likeness close by the mantelpiece; another, the one who had held him, close by. "Well, doctor," said the chief spokesman, cynically, "the storm has passed over. All unexpected only a few hours ago, and we were seated happily after our coffee and cigarettes, when that idiot began to play the fool with his revolver, and shot himself. Troubles never come alone. Now, my dear sir, let me apologise for what has happened since we all lost our tempers and behaved so foolishly." Chester looked at him sternly and remained silent. "You will excuse my hastiness. I was excited in my anxiety about the poor fool there, and you see now how imperative it is that you should not leave him till he is safe." "Will you be good enough to unlock that door, sir, and let me pass through?" said Chester, coldly. "To be perfectly plain, doctor--no, I will not. Let us understand one another at once. You will have to stay and make the best of it." "I shall not stay, sir, and as soon as I leave here I shall take what steps seem, after due thought, to be correct over what has been an outrage toward me; and without doubt a murderous attack upon that unfortunate man." "Murderous attack? Absurd, doctor! An accident." "Do you take me for a child, sir? He could not have shot himself. Now, if you please, unlock that door."