As the door closed, Taylor sprang from the chair with a curse. “Grab him, I tell you,” he cried raging. “He’s a crook. The Government wants him, and they’ll hold you people responsible if he gets away.” He blew his whistle loudly, and then rushed out of the door and down the hall taking the steps four at a time. The French windows were open and out of them he ran, calling sharply for his men. But Gibbs and Duncan were even now fiercely searching the other wing and disturbing frightened servants above. It was not for some minutes that they made their way to their chief, and searched the grounds as he bade them. And even here they were frustrated. Lambart’s tactical genius had forbidden him to remove the clothes-lines he had laid to bring wandering tramps low, and among them Duncan and Gibbs floundered with dreadful profanity. There were two other men aiding them now, Ford and Hammett, who were stationed outside the grounds to watch the only road by which Denby could escape. When Taylor was satisfied they were doing what they could, he came back into the big hall where the frightened group was awaiting him. “We’ll get your friend yet,” he observed disagreeably to Mrs. Harrington. “It’s bright moonlight, and my men’ll nab him.” “But he’s not my friend,” she objected; “I had no idea he was that kind of a person.” “When I find a man like that a guest in a house like this,” Taylor retorted, “I think I’m justified in calling him your friend. You’ll have time to think what to say later when you’re called as a witness.” “I want to beg your pardon, Mr. Taylor,” said Michael anxiously. The idea of being cross-examined and made a fool of by a bullying counsel horrified him. He’d be a jest forever more at Meadow Brook and Piping Rock. The Harringtons casually to pick up a smuggler and make him free of their exclusive home! Never had he needed a drink to steady his nerves as he did now! “Well, I certainly think there is an apology due me,” Taylor sneered. He was not one to forget an affront and Harrington had alluded to his criminal type in a way that rankled yet. “But how could we know?” asked Mrs. Harrington; “he seemed perfectly all right, although I did say he might be a murderer.” “That’ll come out in court,” Taylor reminded her disagreeably. “If it hadn’t been that my men were here to swear to me, I’d have spent the night in one of your little one-horse jails, and he’d have got away. When I do get him he’ll remember Daniel Taylor till the day he dies.” Monty, overhearing these direful threats from behind a door, and happy because of his friend’s escape, walked boldly in. “Did you get the burglar?” he demanded airily. “There wasn’t any burglar,” Alice told him. “It was your old friend Denby that caused all the trouble,” Michael informed him, “the old friend you introduced into my house. I tell you, Monty--” “Don’t explain,” Taylor commanded. “Now,” he snapped to Monty, “have you seen Steven Denby in the last ten minutes?”