The Flag-Lieutenant went, to return in a few moments with a face that was strangely white. “Doc.,” he muttered, “he’s dead. Halfway along the passage there.” The doctor got up quickly and followed the other. And for a while he stood looking at Hubert Garling’s face, that stared with unseeing eyes at the ceiling. “Heart, Flags, or I’m a Dutchman,” he said. “The struggle to get the key did for him.” They covered the distorted face with a pocket-handkerchief, and went back to the living. And it was a couple of minutes before either of them spoke again. “May Heaven be praised, old man,” said the doctor, “that we decided to motor back to Portsmouth and not stop in town. It strikes me there have been some funny things happening here tonight.” “Where the devil are the servants, anyway?” demanded his pal. “We’ll get them shortly,” said the other. “And the police, too. Don’t forget, old man, we killed that bloke between us. It was the only thing to do: he was crazy. But it’s a police matter.” “What is?” Jack Denver’s hoarse croak made them both swing round. He was sitting up, swaying a little, and the doctor hurried to him. “Feeling better?” he said. “That’s good.” Denver pushed him away. “How’s Hilda—how’s Mrs. Garling?” “Going fine. She hasn’t come round yet—but she will soon. There she is, beside you.” For a moment Denver looked at her, then he got up unsteadily. “I don’t know who you are,” he said, “but there’s a man in this house I’m going to kill.” The two naval officers looked at one another. “Steady, old chap,” said the Flag-Lieutenant. He followed Denver along the passage. “Unless I’m much mistaken, he’s dead already.” They paused by the body, and he lifted the pocket-handkerchief from the dead man’s face. “Is that the man?” “It is,” said Denver. “How did it happen?” “It doesn’t take long to tell,” answered the other. “We were motoring back from town, and suddenly we saw your signals. At first we paid no attention, and then—being a Flag-Lieutenant myself—I took them in automatically. S.O.S. Help. We rushed into the house and found that man in the hall downstairs. He was crazy—or so it seemed to us. Told us you were dead by now: and if you weren’t you were going to die. Brandished a key in front of our faces, and roared with laughter. We were on him like a knife, and, I can tell you, he put up a fight. But we got the key, and we got to you in time.” “She’s coming to,” said the doctor’s voice from just behind them. For a moment Jack Denver stared at them both. “I won’t try and thank you now,” he said, quietly. “I’ll do that and explain everything shortly. But when you’ve been into the valley of the shadow with someone, and come out first, it’s good to welcome your fellow-voyager.” He turned and went back to Hilda Garling. And when, a few seconds later, she opened her eyes, it was into his that they stared. His arms were round her, and he was smiling.