I knew by this time that I was shot in the arm, for the blood was trickling through my sleeve; but the wound did not pain me much yet--I was too much excited for that, and too much occupied with Laurence’s pitiful distress. He did not attempt to join in the hopeless chase of the escaped Gordon, but put me on a sofa, tore off the body of my frock, and bandaged my arm himself. “Tell me what it all means, Laurence,” said I. “I am not badly hurt--I am not indeed--and I want to understand it all. Did you catch the thieves? Who were they? Have they really caught James Woodfall? And I hope--oh, I hope poor Tom Parkes has escaped!” I whispered; for the middle-aged man had not joined in the pursuit, but stood on the watch, half in and half out of the window. “Tom Parkes has been caught, and James Woodfall has escaped, I am afraid,” said Laurence. “Then he was there! Tell me all about it,” I said anxiously. “Won’t to-morrow do?” pleaded poor Laurence earnestly. “I am afraid, if you get so much excited, your arm will get inflamed, and I ought to be setting off for the doctor now.” “No, no; you couldn’t get to Beaconsburgh to-night, you know you couldn’t. It wouldn’t be safe,” said I. “Your bandaging will do quite well until the doctor comes as usual to see Sarah to-morrow morning. Now tell me quickly all about the robbery. Did you find the policemen in the park?” Then suddenly I sprang up from the sofa. “Where is Mr. Rayner? Why was Gordon here instead of him? Oh, Laurence, my head seems to be going round! I don’t understand it at all. I am getting quite bewildered. Why was it?”