Harry ran back to the road to find Sherebiah, who in his absence had made an examination of the ground with the aid of the carriage lamp. Polignac was stone dead; his body lay at the very brink of the canal. There was no sign of Aglionby or of the other two men, though traces of blood were found on the spot where the captain had fallen. Of the house party two men were badly wounded; these Harry despatched to the house for ministration while himself with Sherebiah hurried back at full speed to Mynheer Grootz. The coach stood undisturbed where they had left it. Grootz lay on the seat, conscious but very weak. "Well?" he said, as they appeared. "Well, thank God!" replied Harry. "The ladies are safe, Polignac is dead, Aglionby and the rest have fled." "Zo!" Quite content, the merchant said no more. He was taken at a walking pace to Lindendaal. *CHAPTER XXV* *A Bundle of Letters* Jealousy—Hard Facts—A Special Plea—Family History—Brother and Sister—Marriage Lines—A Fair Claimant—Air Castles Some hours later, when Madame de Vaudrey had been composed to sleep, and the three patients made as comfortable as possible pending the arrival of the doctor, who had been summoned from the village, Adèle left her mother’s bed-side and joined Harry in the dining-room. "I must thank you," she said, advancing to him with outstretched hands. "We have always to thank you. It seems to be fated that you should save us from that bad man." "He will trouble you no more, Mademoiselle." Adèle looked a question. "Yes, he is dead." The girl shuddered, and looked involuntarily towards the sword at Harry’s side. "No, it was not I; it was my man." There was a look of relief in Adèle’s face. "How thankful to God we must be that you came in time, Monsieur!" "Did Madame not get my letter?" "Did you write a letter?" "Yes; I learnt some time ago that this plot was hatching, and I wrote twice. The first letter, I know, must have miscarried, but the second—it should have reached you, for I am sure Mynheer Grootz must have received a letter written at the same time. That is why he is here now." "We have been away from home: stay, Monsieur, I will enquire." She soon returned with the letter unopened. "It came three days ago," she said. "We have been for a week in Breda; there were festivities given by the officers of the garrison, and the servants did not think to send the letter, knowing that we should soon return. M. de——he must have found out the time of our departure, and so planned to waylay us. But we were late in starting; Mother was fatigued; and I see how it happened. Mynheer Grootz’s coach was taken for ours; when the—the man found that it was not, he thought it had been sent on in front to deceive him. Oh, Monsieur Harry, but for your letter to Mynheer Grootz, and your coming so soon yourself——"