Mark drew the girl more into the shade near the fireplace, and softly picked up the brightly-polished poker from where it lay. For he had distinctly heard a soft rattle as if of a latchkey, the opening and closing of the hall door, and then as he stood listening there was the scratch of a match which faintly lit up the hall as far as they could see through the drawing-room door. Directly after there was a click, as of a candlestick being removed, an augmentation of the light which approached, and in the full intention of--to use the groom's own words--"letting 'em have it," Mark thrust the girl behind him, and made ready to bring the poker down heavily upon the burglar's head. But he did not, for the head and face, looking yellow and ghastly by the light of a chamber candle, were those of Lady Lisle's agent and confidential man. Possibly from weariness, there was no spasmodic start, Trimmer staring glassy-eyed and strange, and with his black felt hat looking battered and soiled, while in their revulsion of feeling Jane and Mark found no words to say. "What are you two doing here?" said Trimmer at last, speaking in rather a tongue-tied fashion, but as if in full possession of his faculties. "Waiting up to let you in, sir," said Jane, sharply. "It is not true," said the agent. "You must have known I could let myself in. You two are holding a disgraceful clandestine meeting; and I shall consider it my duty to report these proceedings when her ladyship sees me after breakfast. I am called away for a few hours to London, and upon my return the whole house is in disorder." "Thank ye, sir; then I shall speak to her ladyship myself as soon as she comes home," said Jane, pertly. "What! Her ladyship not returned yet?" "No, sir; and I've got to sit up till she do." "Er--where has she gone? Someone ill?" "Haw, haw, haw! Hark at that, Jane! He didn't see her ladyship's carriage at the races. Oh, no! He didn't go and see old Sam Simpkins, the trainer, and make a bet or two; not him! And I wasn't close behind him in the crowd when the guv'nor came in a winner, and I didn't see him bang his hat down on the ground and stamp on it. Oh, no! You give me that hat, Mr Trimmer, sir, and I'll brush and sponge it and iron it into shape so that it'll look as good as new." The agent's countenance went through several changes before it settled down into a ghastly smile. "Well, well," he said, "I must confess to being attracted to seeing the big race, but I did not know you would be there, Mark. But you surprise me. Sir Hilton and her ladyship not returned? A great surprise, though, Mark--Jane. You know, of course? Sir Hilton returning to the old evil ways." "Yah? Chuck it up, Mr Trimmer, sir," said Mark, in a tone of disgust; "and when you tell her ladyship you caught me and Jane here talking after she let me in, just you tell her how much you won on the race."