"You devil!" yelled the half-caste, and he leaped up, to slip his hand behind him. The barrister flung himself down, while three shots rang out from the captain's derringer, then sprang to his feet on hearing no more. Apparently only three chambers had been loaded, for Shepworth, filled with wrath at this treachery, dared the worst, and ran blindly down the steps. Jadby flung away the still smoking weapon with an oath, and sped down the avenue, as though the fiend himself was after him. For some little distance Shepworth followed, until he lost him on the wide Downs, and then returned to the Grange, to meet Prelice coming down the avenue at top speed. "Are you hurt, Ned?" shouted his friend. "One of the bullets ripped my arm, but it's nothing to speak of," was Shepworth's reply. "Where's Mona?" "She ran upstairs to see Mrs. Blexey. I'll send up and let her know that you are all right. I say, Ned, you have made a dangerous enemy." "Oh, damn the danger," growled Shepworth, who was furious--"the low, mean, sulking hound. He insulted me before on account of Constance, and that was why we fought. He hadn't a revolver then, and I gave him a black eye, the brute." "And are you really in love with Constance?" asked Prelice doubtfully. "Yes," said Ned gruffly, and not seemingly inclined to talk about the matter just then. "I'll tell you all about it some day. Meanwhile let us reassure Mona, and get my arm bathed. It's only a scratch." "But one moment, Ned," said Prelice, holding him back from entering the house. "You are not actually engaged to Mona--I mean Miss Chent?" "No. I only agreed so as to save her from Jadby's insolence and Sir Oliver's persecution." "Then Miss Chent is heart-whole?" "Entirely, so far as I know," replied Shepworth dryly; and then wheeling to face his friend: "Why do you ask these questions?" "I'll tell you all about it some day," said Prelice, echoing the former speech of the barrister. "Halloa, here's Mona--that is, Miss Chent herself." It was indeed Mona who appeared at the top of the steps, with Mrs. Blexey and two footmen behind her. She looked pale, and hurried forward. "Are you hurt, Ned?" she asked anxiously. "I heard the shots." "It's only a flea-bite," said Ned quickly; "don't bother about it. I'll go to my room and bathe it." "Let me do that, sir," said Mrs. Blexey; and Shepworth, nodding a faint assent, for he had lost some blood, went into the house, and up the wide oaken stairs. Prelice lingered behind with Mona. "I am so glad," he said meaningly. "That Ned has been shot? How cruel of you." "No, no, no! You must be aware that I am glad, because----" "I haven't time to listen now," said Mona, her face crimson and her eyes very bright. "I have to send a telegram." "To whom?" demanded Prelice as she disappeared through the hall. "To Dr. Horace," came back the reply; and then the young man in addition to his other puzzled thoughts had this new one concerning his former fellow-traveller.