"Yes, I do, ma'am; and if he can fire the creature and signal 'All's clear' for Chadlands, it will calm everybody and be a proper feather in his cap, and he did ought to be made a bishop, at the least. Not that Scotland Yard men will believe a word of it to-morrow, all the same. Ghosts are bang out of their line, and I never met even a common constable that believed in 'em, except Bob Parrett, and he had bats in the belfry, poor chap. No; they'll reckon it's somebody in the house, I expect, who wanted to kill t' others, but ain't got no quarrel with Mr. May. And you'd be wise to get back to bed, ma'am, and try to sleep, else you'll catch a cold. I'll look round again in an hour or to, if I don't go to sleep my self." They parted, while the storm still ran high, and through the empty corridor, when it was lulled, a voice rolled steadily on from the Grey Boom. When it suddenly ceased, an hour before dawn, the storm had already begun to sink, and through a rack of flying and breaking cloud the "Hunter" wheeled westerly to his setting. CHAPTER VIII. THE LABORS OF THE FOUR Despite the storm, Sir Walter slept through the night, and did not waken until his man drew the blinds upon a dawn sky so clear that it seemed washed of its blue. He had directed to be wakened at six o'clock. "What of Mr. May?" he asked. "Masters wants to know if we shall call him, Sir Walter." "Not if he has returned to his room, but immediately if still in the Grey Room." "He's not in his own room, sir." "Then seek him at once." The valet hesitated. "Please, Sir Walter, there's none much cares to open the door." He heard his daughter's voice outside at the same moment. "Mr. May has not left the Grey Room, father." "I'll be with you in a moment," he answered. Then he rose, dressed partially, and joined her. She was full of active fear. "All went well at two o'clock," she said, "for I crept out to listen. So did Masters. Mr. May's voice sounded clear and steady." They found the butler at the door of the Grey Room. He was pale and mopping his forehead. "I've called to him, but it's as silent as the grave in there," he said. "It's all up with the gentleman; I know it!" "He may not be there; he may have gone out," answered Sir Walter.