Not without hope! Looking down at the motionless form lying on Geoffrey Wornock's bed, in the large airy room, the hand on the coverlet as white as the lawn sheet, the face disfigured and hardly to be recognized as Allan's face under the broad linen bandage which covered forehead and eyes, the lips livid and speechless--looking with agonized heart at this spectacle, Allan's mother found it hard to believe the doctor's assurance that the case was not, in his humble opinion, utterly hopeless. "We shall know more to-morrow," he said. "Are they trying to find the wretch who did it?" asked Lady Emily. "God grant he may be hanged for murder, if my son is to die." "I shall go from here to the police-station, and take all necessary steps, if I have your ladyship's authority for doing so. The keeper who found your poor son sent a lad off to give information." "Yes, yes. And you will offer a reward--a large reward. My poor boy--my dear, dear son--to see him lying there--quite unconscious--speechless--helpless. My murdered boy! Where did they find him--how----" "Lying in a little hollow among the underwood, within a few paces of the path. There is a gate in the fence opening into the high-road, and a footpath, and cart-track, which cut into the main drive four or five hundred yards from the gate. It is a point at which he might be likely to meet a tramp--as it is so near the road--and a long way from any of the lodge gates. The drive would be in Mr. Carew's straight course from Marsh House here." "Yes, yes! And it was a tramp--you are sure of that--a common robber--who attacked him?" "Evidently. His pockets were turned inside out--his watch was gone." "There was a day when no one man would have dared to attack my son." "There may have been two men. The ground was a good deal trampled, the keeper told me; but they would be able to see very little by the light of a couple of lanterns brought from the stables to the north lodge. We shall see the footsteps, and be able to come to a better idea of the struggle, to-morrow morning." "Send for a London detective--the best that can be got," Lady Emily interrupted eagerly. "Be sure we will do all that can be done." "He has no father to take his part," she went on, distractedly; "no wife--no sweetheart even--to care for him--only a poor, weak mother. If he should die, there will be only one broken heart in the world--only one----" "Dear lady, why anticipate the worst?" remonstrated the doctor. "Yes, yes, I am wrong. I must cast myself upon God's mercy. I am not an irreligious woman. I will pray for my son. There is nothing else in the world that I can do. But while I am praying you will work--you will find the wretch who did this cruel deed. You will send for the cleverest doctor in London--the one man of all men who can cure my poor boy." "You may trust me, Lady Emily. Nothing shall be forgotten or deferred." * * * * *