Colonel Blood’s quick ears could hear the distant rumbling of heavy wheels, and he felt satisfied that his men had done their work cleverly and completely. “But what is your business with me, colonel?” asked Sir Richard. “There has been a dreadful commotion to-night. Phillip Redgill, I hear, is killed.” “Killed!—how?—by whom?” “Yes, killed, I understand, in a brawl or a fight, or a duel, or something of that sort, by young Ned Warbeck.” “Impossible!” “Nay, ’tis too true, Sir Richard; the information only just reached me, and I thought it was my bounden duty to inform you.” “Thanks, colonel; but how could this have come to pass? I cannot understand it. I know that Phillip Redgill’s character of late has been bad, very bad indeed, but I never thought it would have come to this. Killed by Ned Warbeck, too—shocking, sir, shocking. I always thought that something of this sort would happen, for they hated each other since boyhood. But in what manner did all this happen, colonel? Let me hear the particulars.” Colonel Blood was about to tell him all he knew, when a great row took place in the house, which stopped the conversation. “What is that noise?” asked old Sir Richard. “I know not,” said Blood, coolly. “Murder, thieves, robbers, burglars, seducers, villains!” screamed the two nurses locked in the room. They kicked at the door, and made such a terrible hubbub, that it aroused all the servants in the house, who came clamouring to the spot in hot haste. “Open the door, open the door!” screamed the two nurses, jumping about inside; “thieves, murderers, seducers—help, help!” The door was quickly opened, and one of the nurses thought proper to enact a little scene on her own account, and therefore fainted right in Blood’s arms. The colonel was disgusted with his burden, and let her fall upon the floor again, rather heavily. “The girl gone?” said Sir Richard. “Yes, four men came in upon us—oh, oh, oh!—ho-o-o!” “All in masks—oh, ho-o-o!” “Wanted to take liberties with us—ho-o-o!” “But we wouldn’t let ’em.” “They snatched up my lady.” “And drank all the wines and spirits.” “They had all black faces.” “Masks, I suppose,” said Blood, coolly. “Yes, sir; masks, dark lanterns, and daggers. Oh, it was a mercy both on us weren’t killed.” “And which way did they go?” “Can’t tell, sir.” “I must see to this at once,” said Blood; “this outrage is too great to be endured.” “Do,” said Sir Richard; “do, colonel, the girl must not be borne away from my house in this manner.” “You speak and look as if _I_ had had something to do with the affair, Sir Richard.” “Whatever I think is my own business, Colonel Blood; but believe me I shall inform the king of all I know and suspect, and shall attend the levée next Thursday for that special purpose.” Blood blustered out some angry words, and left the mansion, pretending to be in a great rage with “those villainous rascals” who had stolen the girl away.