Linnell's pulse beat madly, as he half closed his eyes, and kept his head averted while he knelt there in the semi-darkness, and placed his hand upon the woman's breast. Then he snatched his hand away and felt giddy. But a throb of joy ran through him. Her heart was beating, and he felt sure she was only fainting from the fright. "Why don't you speak, sir?" cried Bell angrily. "Is she much hurt?" "I think not, my man, only fainting," said Linnell. "Well?" This to Mellersh, who came to him from where he had laid Rockley. "I don't know," was the answer to the abrupt query. "Only stunned, I think. Head cut with the broken glass." "Not killed then?" said Linnell bitterly. "No. Such as he generally come off easily," replied Mellersh. "What's to be done?" "Better send our man back for a fresh post-chaise," said Linnell quickly. "Will you attend to Miss Denville?" he whispered. "I think I'll take one of the horses and ride back myself for the chaise." "Why not let me go, Dick?" "No," said Linnell in sombre tones. "I've stopped this wretched flight. My part's done. Mellersh, I trust to you to place her once more under her father's charge." "Will not you do it?" "I? No. I have done. We'll send this man for the chaise, though. That scoundrel Rockley may come to again and be troublesome." "Lookye here, gents," said the man who had ridden the wheeler, "we want to know who's going to pay for this night's job. My leg's bad; my 'oss is dead; and the chay's all to pieces." "Wait and see, my man," said Mellersh sternly. "You will be recompensed." "But fine words butter no parsnips, you know, sir. I want to know--" "Hold your tongue, fellow! I am Colonel Mellersh, of Saltinville. That man you were driving is Major Rockley, of the --th Dragoons. Of course everything will be paid for, and you will be recompensed. Now then, which of you can ride back for a fresh chaise?" "Well, sir, I--" "Damn it, man, don't talk. Five guineas if a chaise is here within an hour." "Ah, that's business, sir. Come on, mate. We'll be back before then." The man seemed to forget his bruised leg, and with the help of his comrade the girths were unbuckled, and the saddle dragged off the dead horse, placed upon the other, and they were about to start when the first postboy asked whether it would be safe to leave the injured chaise where it was. As it happened, in the struggle it had been dragged off the road on to the grass border, and lay there, so that there was ample room for passers-by; and, satisfied with this, the postboys were off at a rapid trot. "Rather an awkward position if that fellow is seriously injured," said Linnell grimly. "Pooh! man; it was an accident, and he was engaged in an unlawful act," said Mellersh coolly, but with a peculiar meaning in his tone. Linnell winced, for the mental pang was sharp. His old friend suggested that Claire might have been a willing partner in that night's adventure.