"Prydale's just had a telephone message from the butler at Normandale!" he exclaimed. "Pratt is there!--and something extraordinary is going on: the butler wants the police. We're off at once--there's Prydale in a motor, waiting for me. Will you follow?" He darted away again, and Eldrick looking round for a car, suddenly recognized the Mallathorpe livery. "Great Scott!" he said. "There's Miss Mallathorpe--just driving in. Better tell her!" A moment later, he and Collingwood had joined Nesta in her carriage, and the horses' heads were turned in the direction towards which Byner and Prydale were already hastening. CHAPTER XXVII RESTORED TO ENERGY Esther Mawson, leaving Pratt to enjoy his sherry and sandwiches at his leisure, went away through the house, out into the gardens, and across the shrubbery to the stables. The coachman and grooms were at dinner--with the exception of one man who lived in a cottage at the entrance to the stable-yard. This was the very man she wanted to see, and she found him in the saddle-room, and beckoned him to its door. "Mrs. Mallathorpe wants me to go over to Scaleby on an errand for her this afternoon," she said. "Can you have the dog-cart ready, at the South Garden gate at three o'clock sharp? And--without saying anything to the coachman? It's a private errand." Of late this particular groom had received several commissions of this sort, and being a sharp fellow he had observed that they were generally given to him when Miss Mallathorpe was out. "All right," he answered. "The young missis is going out in the carriage at half-past two. South Garden gate--three sharp. Anybody but you?" "Only me," replied Esther. "Don't say anything to anybody about where we're going. Get the dog-cart ready after the carriage has gone."