The door of The Study did not yield to her pressure, and she frowned. “I’m sure I did not lock this door,” she said, and found the pass-key in her bag. The door was bolted on the inside! “Wait here whilst I dress,” she said. The eyes of Julius Superbus bulged. Excitement toned his complexion from petunia to old gold. He was not nervous; he was not frightened. Danger made him go pale. Mark Antony was that way. She was down again in an incredibly short space of time, took the revolver belt from the hall cupboard and fixed it about her waist. Mr. Superbus saw the gun in her hand and felt more comfortable. “Open the door, please.” There was a faint rustle of movement on the other side of the door. A not so faint click as if lights were being extinguished. “Guard the back of the house,” she said in a low voice. “He will probably escape over the wall. Take no risks--strike him down at once. He may be armed!” Mr. Superbus did not move. He was rooted to the spot, as they say. “What about getting a policeman?” he asked hollowly. She shook her head. “I don’t want the police here. Do as I tell you, please.” Mr. Superbus tried to lift a foot and winced; his rheumatism had “come on” again. “I won’t leave you here by yourself,” he said unsteadily; “it would be cowardly, leaving a lady by herself.” From the hall there was one entrance to The Study. You might reach it, however, through the small ante-room which Gordon used as a book store. He refused to dignify the place with the description of “library.” “Stay here,” she whispered, and sped along the dark passage. The door was unlocked, the smell of books came to her in the darkness, and she stepped stealthily into the room, pistol in hand. The second door into The Study opened. The big room was in darkness except for the faint light of the painted window. “Hands up!” she called. “I see you!” The light control was at the other end of the room--she felt cautiously forward. She had taken a few steps when the door into the hall jerked open and a figure darted through, slamming the door.... Superbus would have him, she thought exultantly as she ran in pursuit. But there was no sound of struggle, and when she flew into the hall it was empty. “Mr. Superbus!” she called. “Here, ma’am.” He came out of The Study behind her. “I follered you,” he said; “it wasn’t right to let a lady take risks. Did you see him?” “Oh, why didn’t you do as I told you?” she wailed. “My duty was to foller you.” Julius was dogged. “It was safer.” Which was true. She put on all the lights of The Study. Nothing apparently had been disturbed except---- She had left the pointer of the combination on the letter “X.” It was now on “A.” “Bring in the tea,” she said, and continued her inspection. Mr. Superbus returned with the tray she had filled. “What we want are cloos,” he said gently, so gently that she did not hear him aright.