Magnus nodded, the case was produced, and they both lit up, and instead of going straight back east, continued to promenade up and down, and then right round the great block of houses over and over again, for quite an hour, saying very little, but seeming as it were attracted to the place, till coming to the front, for what Artingale vowed should be the last time, he saw a couple of figures apparently leave one of the doors, and go right on towards the other end. "Somebody late," he said, feeling a kind of interest in the couple that he could not account for. "Yes," said Magnus, quickly, "very late. Come along." Artingale involuntarily quickened his steps, and they followed the two figures without a word, seeing them sometimes more, sometimes less, distinctly, according to the position they occupied relative to the lamps. Why they took so much interest in them was more than they could have explained, for a couple of figures going late at night along a London street is no such very great novelty; but still, they quickened their steps, feeling ready at the slightest hint to have increased the pace to a run. There seemed no sufficient reason though for such a step, and they continued to walk on fast, till they came to the end of the row of houses; and turning sharply they were just in time to hear the jangling noise of the door of a four-wheeled cab slammed to, then what sounded like a faint wailing cry. "There's something wrong, I think," said Artingale; but as he spoke the glass was dragged up, the horse started off at a rapid trot, the cab turned into the road by the Park railings, and was gone. The two friends stood hesitating, and had they been alone, either would have run after the cab. But as they hesitated from a feeling that such a proceeding would have been absurd, the vehicle was driven rapidly away. "What made you say there was something wrong?" said Magnus at last, in a hoarse voice. "I don't know, I can't tell: where did those people come from? I hope no one's ill." "From one of the houses near Mr Mallow's," said Magnus. "I think so; I couldn't be sure. Let's walk back." They hurried back past the series of blank doors, till they were about half way along, when as they reached the Rector's they found that a policeman had just come up, and he made them start by flashing his lantern in their faces. "Oh, it's you, sir," he said to Artingale. "Were you coming back here?" "No. Why?" "Because you left the door open." "Then there is something wrong, Magnus. Here, let's run after the cab." "It's half a mile away by now," said the other hoarsely. "You'd better see, constable." "It's a crack," said the policeman, excitedly, "and the chaps must be in here. Will you gents keep watch while I get help, and put some one on at the other side in the Gardens?" "Yes--no--yes," exclaimed Artingale. "I'm afraid some one's ill. We saw two people come away hurriedly and take a cab at the end."