He finished his cigar, thinking out his plans the while, and at last coming to the conclusion that it was an unnecessary task this watching, he was about to make one more turn round the verandah, and then enter by the window and go to bed, when he fancied he heard a door close, as if blown by the wind that was once more sighing about the place. "Just woke up, I suppose," he said, and he walked towards the study window and looked in. Hallam had not moved, but was sleeping heavily in his old position. Crellock listened again, but all was perfectly still. It could not have been fancy. Certainly he had heard a door bang softly, and the sound seemed to come from this direction. He stood thinking, and then went round and tried the front door. "Fast." He walked round to the back door, following the verandah all the way, and found that door also fast. "I couldn't have been mistaken," he said, as he listened again. Once more the wind was sighing loudly about the place, but the noise was not repeated, and he walked on to the dining-room window; but as he laid his hand upon the glass door and thrust it open, a current of air rushed in, and there was the same sound: a door blew to with a slight bang. Crellock closed and fastened the glass door as he stepped out and ran quickly round to the drawing-room, where it was as he suspected: the glass door similar to that he had just left was open, and blew to and fro. "There's something wrong," he said excitedly, his suspicions being aroused; and, dashing in, he upset a chair in crossing the room, and it fell with a crash, but he hurried on into the hall, through to the study, and caught Hallam by the arm. "Wake up!" he said excitedly. "Hallam! Wake up, man." He had to shake him heavily before the drink stupefaction passed off, and then Hallam stood trembling and haggard, trying to comprehend his companion's words. "Wrong?" he said. "Wrong? What's wrong?" "I don't know yet. Look sharp! Run up to your wife's room. Take the candle. Quick, man; are you asleep?" In his dazed state Hallam staggered, and his hand trembled so that he could hardly keep the light anything like steady. There was the knowledge, though faintly grasped, that something was terribly wrong. He gathered that from his companion's excited manner, and, stumbling on into the hall, blundered noisily up the stairs while Crellock stood breathing hard and listening. "Here, Millicent! Julie!" he cried hoarsely; "what's the matter?" Crellock heard the lock handle turn, and the door thrown open so violently that it struck against the wall, but there was no reply from the voices of frightened women. "Do you hear? Milly--Julie! Why don't you answer?" came from above, and Crellock's harsh breathing became like the panting of some wild beast. For a few moments there was absolute silence; then the sound of stumbling, heavy steps, and Hallam came out on to the landing.