"You must not attempt to impede the officer in the execution of his duty, my friend," said Mr. Kyffin, "you will gain nothing by so doing." "I don't expect to gain anything," answered Paul. "I am only obeying the colonel's orders in keeping the house against all intruders. If these people aren't intruders, I don't know who are." "If they have the law with them we must not interfere," again repeated Mr. Kyffin. "I am anxious to break the sad news to the ladies before these men do so abruptly. I should have thought better of Silas Sleech; but I suppose he has been urged on by his father." "One's no better than the other, in my opinion," muttered Paul. "However, sir, if you will tell the poor ladies what has happened in as gentle a way as possible, I will bless you for it. As for me, I could not do it, that I could not." With a sad heart Mr. Kyffin took his way through the grounds, hoping to fall in with Mabel and her aunt. Paul Gauntlett in the meantime kept guard at the door, while two other stout fellows with bludgeons appearing round the corner of the house, induced the besiegers to keep at a respectful distance. Mr. Kyffin soon met the two ladies. He had no doubt who they were, and at once introduced himself. The result of his announcement, though made as cautiously as possible, can better be imagined than described. "If it is so, God's will be done!" said Madam Everard, whose whole thoughts were centred in her niece, whom she and Roger Kyffin with difficulty bore to the house. The news soon flew around the place, and Dr. Jessop hearing it at once repaired to Stanmore, where he found his old friend Roger Kyffin. For several days Mabel lay almost unconscious, attended carefully by Dr. Jessop, through whose speedy arrival, in all human probability, her life had been saved. Scarcely had she begun to recover, than Mr. Sleech, armed with further authority, arrived at the Park. Mr. Wallis was in consultation with Madam Everard. She and her niece must remove at the bidding of her brother-in-law. "Nothing can be done," said Mr. Wallis. "At all events, no attempt must be made to prevent his being admitted into the house." With a heavy heart Paul Gauntlett heard the lawyer's decision, though even then he seemed very doubtful whether he ought to submit to Madam Everard's orders. "I would rather a thousand times have fought it out to the last, and died in the breach," he exclaimed, dashing his stick on the floor. "However, if it must be, it must be, and it's not the first time a scoundrel has gained the day and got into the place of an honest man." Paul had abundance of occupation for the remainder of his stay at Stanmore.