“Get up!  Be quick!”

The voice was Major Chantrell’s and Mitchelbourne had a throb of hope.  For since it was not the Major who had fallen nor Captain Bassett, it must be Lashley.  And Lashley had been guarding the door, of which the key still remained in the lock.  If only he could reach the door and turn the key!  He heard Chantrell moving stealthily along the wall upon his left hand and he suffered a moment’s agony; for in the darkness he could not surely tell which way the Major moved.  For if he moved to the window, if he had the sense to move to the window and tear aside those drawn curtains, the grey twilight would show the shadowy moving figures.  Mitchelbourne’s chance would be gone.  And then something totally unexpected and unhoped for occurred.  The god of the machine was in a freakish mood that evening.  He had a mind for pranks and absurdities.  Mitchelbourne was strung to so high a pitch that the ridiculous aspect of the occurrence came home to him before all else, and he could barely keep himself from laughing aloud.  For he heard two men grappling and struggling silently together.  Captain Bassett and Major Chantrell had each other by the throat, and neither of them had the wit to speak.  They reserved their strength for the struggle.  Mitchelbourne stepped on tiptoe to the door, felt for the key, grasped it without so much as a click, and then suddenly turned it, flung open the door and sprang out.  He sprang against a fourth man—­the servant, no doubt, who had misdirected him—­and both tumbled on to the floor.  Mitchelbourne, however, tumbled on top.  He was again upon his feet while Major Chantrell was explaining matters to Captain Bassett; he was flying down the avenue of trees before the explanation was finished.  He did not stop to untie his horse; he ran, conscious that there was only one place of safety for him—­the interior of Mrs. Ufford’s house.  He ran along the road till he felt that his heart was cracking within him, expecting every moment that a hand would be laid upon his shoulder, or that, a pistol shot would ring out upon the night.  He reached the house, and knocked loudly at the door.  He was admitted, breathless, by a man, who said to him at once, with the smile and familiarity of an old servant: 

“You are expected, Mr. Lance.”

Mitchelbourne plumped down upon a chair and burst into uncontrollable laughter.  He gave up all attempt for that night to establish his identity.  The fates were too heavily against him.  Besides he was now quite hysterical.

The manservant threw open a door.

“I will tell my mistress you have come, sir,” said he.

“No, it would never do,” cried Mitchelbourne.  “You see I died at three o’clock this afternoon.  I have merely come to leave my letters of presentation.  So much I think a proper etiquette may allow.  But it would never do for me to be paying visits upon ladies so soon after an affair of so deplorable a gravity.  Besides I have to be buried at seven in the morning, and if I chanced not to be back in time, I should certainly acquire a reputation for levity, which since I am unknown in the county, I am unwilling to incur,” and, leaving the butler stupefied in the hall, he ran out into the road.  He heard no sound of pursuit.