“Anything wrong?” was all he could think of to say at the moment.  And the answer was eloquent, coming from such a woman.

“I feel cold—­and a little frightened,” she whispered.

He offered to close the window, but she seized hold of him and begged him not to leave her side even for an instant.

“It’s upstairs, I know,” she whispered, with an odd half laugh; “but I can’t possibly go up.”

But Shorthouse thought otherwise, knowing that in action lay their best hope of self-control.

He took the brandy flask and poured out a glass of neat spirit, stiff enough to help anybody over anything.  She swallowed it with a little shiver.  His only idea now was to get out of the house before her collapse became inevitable; but this could not safely be done by turning tail and running from the enemy.  Inaction was no longer possible; every minute he was growing less master of himself, and desperate, aggressive measures were imperative without further delay.  Moreover, the action must be taken towards the enemy, not away from it; the climax, if necessary and unavoidable, would have to be faced boldly.  He could do it now; but in ten minutes he might not have the force left to act for himself, much less for both!

Upstairs, the sounds were meanwhile becoming louder and closer, accompanied by occasional creaking of the boards.  Someone was moving stealthily about, stumbling now and then awkwardly against the furniture.

Waiting a few moments to allow the tremendous dose of spirits to produce its effect, and knowing this would last but a short time under the circumstances, Shorthouse then quietly got on his feet, saying in a determined voice—­

“Now, Aunt Julia, we’ll go upstairs and find out what all this noise is about.  You must come too.  It’s what we agreed.”

He picked up his stick and went to the cupboard for the candle.  A limp form rose shakily beside him breathing hard, and he heard a voice say very faintly something about being “ready to come.”  The woman’s courage amazed him; it was so much greater than his own; and, as they advanced, holding aloft the dripping candle, some subtle force exhaled from this trembling, white-faced old woman at his side that was the true source of his inspiration.  It held something really great that shamed him and gave him the support without which he would have proved far less equal to the occasion.

They crossed the dark landing, avoiding with their eyes the deep black space over the banisters.  Then they began to mount the narrow staircase to meet the sounds which, minute by minute, grew louder and nearer.  About half-way up the stairs Aunt Julia stumbled and Shorthouse turned to catch her by the arm, and just at that moment there came a terrific crash in the servants’ corridor overhead.  It was instantly followed by a shrill, agonised scream that was a cry of terror and a cry for help melted into one.