"They wouldn't have took a cab," said the constable. "There's a doctor at the end there close by. We're too late, for a suverin. Or no; stop. There's something else up. Look here, sir, I've had you hanging about here and on the other side ever since the family has been in town. Now then, who are you?" "There is my card, constable," said Artingale, shortly. "You know why I came." "Yes, sir--my lord, I mean. But why did that big hulking rough chap, like a country gamekeeper, come? He's been hanging about--" "Stop!" cried Artingale. "Was it a big black-bearded fellow above six feet high?" "That's the man, sir. I set him down as from the country house, and after one of the maids." "When--when did you see him last?" cried Magnus. "To-night, sir." "To-night?" "Yes, m'lord. But while I'm stopping here they may be getting out at the other side and be off." "I'll watch here," said Artingale. "Right, sir. I'll soon have some one on at the other side. You, sir, watch at the area,"--to Magnus. "If any one comes out and tries to run, you lay hold and stick to 'im. I'll soon be back." "Quick, then; for heaven's sake, quick!" cried Artingale; and the man went off at a run. "Let's go after the cab, Harry," cried Magnus, excitedly. "Let's run after the moon, man. It would be madness. If anything is wrong they are far away by now. But we don't know yet that anything is wrong. Wait a few minutes. We shall soon find out." "And meantime?" panted Magnus. "We can do nothing but act like men, and remain calm. Go to your post," exclaimed Artingale; and he spoke in a sharp, decisive way, that showed that the service had missed a good officer. Five minutes--ten minutes--a quarter of an hour of torture, during which all inside was as still as death. Then as Artingale stood in the open doorway he fancied he heard a slight sound, and as he stood upon the _qui vive_, ready to seize the first man who presented himself, he heard steps outside, and saw that a policeman was coming. Steps inside, too, and then from the hall a bull's-eye lantern flashed upon him. "All right, sir," said a familiar voice; and he saw that it was the first policeman. "The dining-room window was open facing the Park. I come in there. I've got a man watching. That you, sergeant?" "Yes. You stop here with this gentleman; get out your truncheon, and don't miss 'em, whatever you do. Roberts will be along here directly." "What are you going to do first?" said Artingale. "Rout up the butler and one or two more, sir, directly," said the sergeant, opening his lantern; and as they entered the hall he made the light play about the perfectly orderly place, before going softly into the great dining-room. "Don't quite understand it yet, sir," he said. "The dining-room shutters here had been opened from the inside. Window was open. Seen anything?" he said to some one in the shadow. "No."