"Look here!" he said angrily, as, hat in hand, he stood before Cleek, his countenance showing a little of what he felt inside his hot young heart. "What the deuce--what the dickens do you mean by sendin' a beastly policeman for me? That's what I want to know! I was on my way up here--the awful thing that has just happened I only heard this morning through my groom, who met one of the Castle grooms in the village, and he told him--and I was comin' up to see if I could be any help, when up comes my lord constable, seizes me by the sleeve, tips his cap, and says, 'You've got to come along with me'--just as if I'd picked a blessed pocket or something! I'm dashed well furious I can tell you! And I want an apology at once. Thought there was somethin' decidedly fishy in your appearance here in the Castle grounds last night, and now I know what you were about for." "But, unfortunately, I don't know what _you_ were about for, Captain," retorted Cleek with a one-sided smile. "And that's exactly what I sent for you to find out. After you have explained yourself so fully and so--so emphatically--in the presence of these ladies, I will now claim a little of your time and attention for myself. "You were perfectly right. I happened to be coming here, upon this very unpleasant and tragic errand, at the summons of Miss Maud Duggan----" "_Maud_ sent for you?" "She did. We had a prearranged signal--she'll probably tell you all about it"--he smiled at her sad young face, a hint of tenderness in his own. "You see, we happen to be friends _through_ friends, if you can follow what I mean. Miss Duggan's school-mate and chum chances to be the lady who has done me the honour to promise to become my wife, and of course it was naturally a firm link between us." "Maud's school-friend?" The Captain's voice was incredulous. "And you? A--a policeman! Damned funny!" "As you say--_very_ funny," returned Cleek, with an ironical bow. "But I must beg of you, my good Captain, to curb your language a little before the ladies. It's not done, you know, in the best society--even a mere policeman knows that. And as all this is entirely beyond the point I'm aiming at, let's get down to brass tacks at once. What I want to know is--what were you doing here last night, when the crime had only just been committed? And why did I encounter you, running from the direction of the house as fast as your feet could carry you? That's what I want to know." A sudden gasp of amazement from Maud Duggan, hastily suppressed, brought Cleek's eyes round to her instantly. Meanwhile, the Captain, going red and white by turns, started to speak, hesitated, and then commenced again, looking the very picture of abject discomfort and unhappiness. At last: