“I’d rather lose the girl than Mrs. Compton; but when they both vanish the same night what are you to think?” “I think the devil is loose.” “I’m afraid he’s turned against us,” said Potts, in a regretful tone. “He’s got tired of helping us.” “Do none of the servants know any thing about it?” “No--none of them.” “Have you asked them all?” “Yes.” “Doesn’t that new servant, the Injin?” “No; they all went to bed at twelve. Vijal was up as late as two. They all swear that every thing was quiet.” “Did they go out through the doors?” “The doors were all locked as usual.” “There’s treachery somewhere!” cried John, with more excitement than usual. The others were silent. “I believe that the girl’s at the bottom of it all,” said John. “We’ve been trying to take her down ever since she came, but it’s my belief that we’ll end by getting took down ourselves. I scented bad luck in her at the other side of the world. We’ve been acting like fools. We ought to have silenced her at first.” “No,” rejoined Potts, gloomily. “There’s somebody at work deeper than she is. Somebody--but who?--who?” “Nobody but the devil,” said Clark, firmly. “I’ve been thinking about that Italian,” continued Potts. “He’s the only man living that would bother his head about the girl. They know a good deal between them. I think he’s managed some of this last business. He humbugged us. It isn’t the devil; it’s this Italian. We must look out; he’ll be around here again perhaps.” Clark’s eyes brightened. “The next time,” said he, “I’ll load my pistols fresh, and then see if he’ll escape me!” At this a noise was heard in the hall. Potts went out. The servants had been scouring the grounds as before, but with no result. “No use,” said John. “I tried it with my dog. He went straight down through the gate, and a little distance outside the scent was lost. I tried him with Mrs. Compton too. They both went together, and of course had horses or carriages there.” “What does the porter say?” asked Clark. “He swears that he was up till two, and then went to bed, and that nobody was near the gate.” “Well, we can’t do any thing,” said Potts; “but I’ll send some of the servants off to see what they can hear. The scent was lost so soon that we can’t tell what direction they took. “You’ll never get her again,” said John; “she’s gone for good this time.” Potts swore a deep oath and relapsed into silence. After a time they all went down to the bank. CHAPTER XLIX. THE RUN ON THE BANK.