The gate yielded, he stepped down quickly into the yard, walked to the open door, looked to the right toward the hall, and then to the left toward the office. A dim light shone down the passage, and his heart seemed to stand still. The office door was open, and without hesitation he turned down the passage panting with horror, as he felt that his suspicions were confirmed. He crossed the outer room, the inner door was shut, and entering he paused for a moment. "Vic!" he whispered harshly. All was still. Trembling now with agitation, he was rapidly crossing to the safe when he stepped on something which gave beneath his feet, and he nearly fell headlong. Recovering himself, he stooped down to pick up the heavy ebony ruler used by old Crampton, and polished by rubs of his coat-tail till it shone. Harry felt giddy now with excitement, but he went to the safe door, felt that it was swung open, and groaning to himself, "Too late, too late!" he bent his head and felt for the drawer. Empty! "You scoundrel!" he groaned; "but he shall give up every note, and--" Once more he felt as if paralysed, for as he turned from the safe he knew that he was not alone in the office. Caught in the act! Burglary--the open safe--the notes gone, who would believe in his innocence? He could think of nothing else, as he heard Van Heldre's voice in the darkness--one fierce angry utterance--"Who's there?" "He does not know me," flashed through Harry Vine's brain. "You villain!" cried Van Heldre, springing at him. It was the instinctive act of one smitten by terror, despair, shame, and the desire to escape--a mad act, but prompted by the terrible position. As Van Heldre sprang at him and grasped at his breast, Harry Vine struck with all his might, the heavy ruler fell with a sickening crash upon the unguarded head, he felt a sudden tug, and with a groan his father's friend sank senseless on the floor. For one moment Harry Vine stood bending over his victim; then uttering a hoarse sigh, he leaped over the body and fled. END OF VOLUME ONE. Volume 2, Chapter I. IN THE BLACK SHADOW. Mrs Van Heldre let her work fall in her lap and gazed across at her husband. "I suppose Harry Vine will walk home with Madelaine?" she said. "Eh? Maddy? I'd forgotten her," said Van Heldre, laying down his pipe. "No; I'll go up and fetch her myself." "Do, dear, but don't stay." "Not I," was the reply; and going out of the dining-room, where he always sat when he had his evening pipe, the merchant went into the study, where by the dim light he saw that his writing-table drawer was open, "How's that?" he thought. "Did I--No." He ran out into the passage, saw that his office door was open, and entered to receive the blow which laid him senseless before the safe. Van Heldre did not lie there long.