He dropped down between the bed and the wall. Then he crawled under the deep valance. He had not long to wait. Somebody had crept into the room, somebody light of foot and light of body who crossed to the bed. And this somebody shook the sleeping figure with passionate force. "Wake up!" a voice said. "Oh, will you never wake up?" The listener smiled. He could hear the figure of his arch-enemy stirring uneasily. She muttered something and once more was passionately shaken. "What is the matter?" she muttered. "Where am I?" "Here, in the castle. Don't you remember?" Pause for a moment. Ralph was listening intently. "I begin to recollect. There was an accident; the door refused to open; I fought for my life as long as I could before the fumes overcame me, and I gave myself up for lost. Oh, it was something to remember, Marion," muttered Mrs. May. Marion, for it was she, made no reply. She was crying quietly. "What is the matter with the girl?" the woman asked irritably. "Oh, it is good for you to ask me that question," said Marion, "after all the bitter trouble and humiliation you have put upon me. Get up and follow me." "I cannot. The thing is impossible. You forget that I have been almost dead. My limbs are paralyzed. I shall not be able to walk for at least two days. I must remain like a dog here. But there is no hurry. What happened?" "I can't tell; I don't know. You were found in the corridor, I am told, insensible. When they came back to the castle they found you lying here. They had all been down on the beach searching for Geoffrey." The woman laughed. It was a laugh to chill the blood. "I hope they found him," she said. "Oh, yes, they found him," Marion said quietly. "Drowned, with a placid smile on his face, after the fashion of the novel?" "No, very much alive. You failed. Geoffrey Ravenspur is here safe and sound. On my knees I have thanked God for it." The woman muttered something that the listener failed to catch. She seemed to be suppressing a tendency to a violent outburst. "I will not fail next time," she said. "And you are a love-sick, soft-hearted, sentimental fool. All this time I have to remain here. But, at any rate, I have you to do my bidding. Put your hand in my breast pocket and you will find a key." "Well, what am I to do with it?" "You are to go to my rooms at Jessop's farm at once. They will be fast asleep, so that you need not be afraid. Jessop's people have the slumber that comes of a tired body and an easy conscience. But there are foes about and it is not well to trust to anybody. "If I am to remain here for a day or two I must have certain things. In my sitting room, by the side of the fireplace, is a black iron box. Open it with the key I have given you and bring the casket to me. You can get into my sitting room by gently raising the window, which is not fastened. They are so honest in these parts that people don't fasten their windows. Now go." "You are sure you cannot get up?"