“Very,” he said, with an emphasis that betrayed his concern. She drew back from him and faced him. “Dick, will you tell me something without any evasion?” He nodded. “Do you think that I am in any personal danger?” “I am sure of it,” he said. “It would be cruel not to tell you the truth. The shot that was fired the other day was intended for you. It was fired by a man who is as brilliant a shot as any in England, and the height of the bullet mark told us that it was aimed directly at your heart.” She listened, stupefied, unbelieving. “But why?” she asked, bewildered. “I have no enemies, Dick; I have wronged nobody. Who could do such a wicked thing?” “If I told you, you would perhaps be no wiser,” he said. “There is a man in this world who hates you and hates me, and has good reason from his point of view. Now that I’ve told you the truth, will you go?” She thought awhile. “I’ll wait until Arthur comes back,” she said, “and ask him to take me to London.” And with that he was satisfied. He was leaving the house when Puttler’s cycle swung into the drive. “Anything wrong?” asked Dick quickly. “I don’t know. Look at this.” He took from his pocket a large sheet of foolscap paper; roughly printed in pencil were the words: Lord Chelford is safe. Don’t search for him, or he will be killed. The Black Abot. The word “Abbot” was printed with one “b.” The placard had been found hanging to the twig of a tree, the jagged hole at the top showing where the mystery man had threaded the paper. “We found it halfway between the ruins and the house,” said Puttler. “Curiously enough, we had only been searching that part of the grounds a quarter of an hour before.” Dick handed the warning back to him. “Is that a bad joke or do you believe this paper?” asked Leslie anxiously. “And, Dick, couldn’t I be some help? I know Fossaway Manor so well, and I am sure there must be places where the police haven’t looked. Do you know there are tiny caves in the banks of the Ravensrill?” “They’ve all been searched, and they’re not big enough to hold a large-sized dog,” said Dick. “If you want to be helpful you can come up to the Manor and put my correspondence in order. I am afraid it has been neglected in these days, and there are a whole lot of bills and things to be entered up.” He had no real need for her, he thought, but whilst she was in the neighbourhood he was anxious that she should be under his eyes. She may have suspected something of this, but she gratefully accepted the offer. “Drive up,” he warned her; “keep to the main road and the main drive. Don’t stop for anybody, however well you know them, and take no notice if you hear somebody shout at you.” In spite of her anxiety she laughed. “How very alarming that sounds!”