He voiced the restless feeling of suspense which was beginning to pervade the whole party. "What time did she start, Kit?" he went on. "About five o'clock, I should think, or soon after." "Then she'd have had loads of time to get back by now." The general tension took the form of a sudden silence. Then Peter Mallory spoke, very quietly: "She didn't propose going up to the castle, did she?" In spite of its quietness his voice had a certain clipped sound that drove home the significance of his question. "Yes, she did." Kitty tried to reassure herself. "But she's as surefooted as a deer. We all went up the other day and Nan was by far the best climber amongst us." Almost simultaneously Peter and Barry were on their feet. "Something may have happened, all the same," said Barry with concern. "She might have sprained her ankle--or--or anything." He turned to the servant nearest him. "Tell Atkinson to get the car round and to be quick about it." "Very good, sir." And the man disappeared on his errand. In a moment the thought that a possible accident might have befallen Nan broke up the party. Kitty and Penelope hurried off in quest of rugs and sandwiches and brandy--anything that might be of service, while the men drew together, conversing in low voices while they waited for the car. "You'll find her, Barry?" St. John's voice shook a little. "You'll bring her back safe?" "I'll bring her back." Barry laid kindly hands on the old man's shoulders which had seemed suddenly to stoop as though beneath a burden. "Don't worry. I expect she's only had some trifling mishap. Burst a tyre probably and is walking back." St. John's look of acute anxiety relaxed a little. "I hope so," he muttered, "I hope so." A servant opened the door. "The car's waiting, sir." "Good." Barry strode into the hall, Mallory following him. "Barry, I must go with you," he said hoarsely. In the blaze of the electric light the two men looked hard into each other's faces. Then Barry nodded. "Right. I'll leave the chauffeur behind and drive myself. We must have plenty of room at the back in case Nan's hurt." He paused, then held out his hand. "I'm damned sorry, old man." "I suppose Kitty told you?" "Yes. She told me." "I think I'm rather glad you know," said Peter simply. Then, hurrying into their coats, the two men ran out to the car and a moment later they were tearing along the road, their headlights blazing like angry stars beneath the calm, sweet light of the moon overhead. The old dame who kept the keys of the castle rose from her supper as the honk, honk of a motor-horn broke on her startled ears. People didn't come to visit the castle at this time of night! But the purr of the engine outside her cottage, and the long beams of light flung seawards by the headlights, brought her quickly to the door.