That was it! The portrait of the gentleman. The father was an old soldier: the more likely for the lover to be military, and he was either away on foreign service, or leading a giddy life in some barrack town. "Why, by Jove!" thought Clive, raising himself upon his elbow. "This is a tiny cot of a place, without a spare room, I should say. The old man would be too Spartan and military to have anything but the simplest of accommodation, and the best is given to the guest. I am in my lady's chamber. Of course. The place is feminine and full of knick-knacks. So that is the cavalier's portrait, and I have the key to the Pandora's box of troubles. Poor girl! But what a shame for me to turn her out. What's that?" The endorsement of one set of Clive Reed's musings, the overturning of others, and a glimpse into Dinah Gurdon's secret care. For, sharp and clear, there was the rattle of a few shot against the lattice panes of the window. Then in the stillness that instantly followed there was a movement on the other side of the partition, and directly after the ringing, echoing report of a gun fired from a room on the other side of the cottage. CHAPTER SIXTEEN. STURGESS SHOWS HIS TEETH. The loud barking of a dog followed the shot, and directly after Reed heard a sharp, light tap on a neighbouring door, and the Major's voice-- "Don't be alarmed, my dear. I thought I heard steps in the garden; my window was open. Some prowling tramp, I expect. Lie down and go to sleep." "Rather a military order," thought Reed; "as if the poor girl could go to sleep under the circumstances, with her lover being shot at--Yes!" "Don't be startled, Mr Reed," said the Major, who had tapped at his door. "We don't have policemen here to go their rounds. Some scoundrel was after my chickens, I expect; and the dog was asleep, so I just fired a cartridge at random as a warning to my visitor. Good-night." "Shall I get up and go round with you?" said Reed. "My dear sir, no. He's over the hills and far away by now. Good-night." "Good-night, sir," said Reed, who was half-dressed; and once more stillness reigned in the mountain solitude.