The man addressed as Hampton picked Grace up as though she had been a baby and carried her to a house a little further up the road.

Meanwhile the men hurried on, arriving at the Omnibus House just as Napoleon succeeded in breaking down the door.  Before he could elude them, he was seized by five pairs of stalwart arms.  He fought like a tiger, making it difficult to bind him.  This was finally accomplished though they were obliged to carry him, for he had to be tied up like a papoose to keep him from doing damage.  He raved continually over the duplicity of Josephine, threatening dire vengeance when he should find her.

When Grace came to herself she looked about her in wonder.  She was lying on a comfortable couch in a big, cheerful sitting room.  A kindly faced woman was bathing her temples, while a young girl chafed her hands.

“Where am I?” said Grace feebly.  “Did Napoleon get out?”

“Lie still and rest, my dear,” said Mrs. Forrest, “Don’t try to exert yourself.”

Grace sat up and looked about her.  “Oh, I know what happened.  I fainted.  How silly of me.  I never did that in my life before.  I had a terrible scare, but I’m all right now.”

The man who had carried her to the house came forward.

“My name is Hampton, miss.  I am a guard over at the asylum.  Those other men you saw are employed there, too.  We were looking for one of our people who escaped night before last.  He nearly killed his keeper.  He’s the worst patient we have out there.  Thinks he’s Napoleon.  Judging from your fright, I guess you must have met him.  Did you really lock him in that old house?”

“Indeed I did,” answered Grace, who was rapidly recovering from the effects of her fright.  “He took me for the Empress Josephine.”  She related all that had happened, ending with the way she locked his emperorship in.

“Well, all I’ve got to say is that you’re the pluckiest girl I ever came across,” said the man admiringly, when Grace had finished.

But she shook her head.

“I never was so frightened in my life before.  I shall never forget his screams.”

It was after eight o’clock when Grace Harlowe arrived at her own door.  The man Hampton had insisted on calling a carriage, so Grace rode home in state.  As she neared the house she saw that the lawn and porch were full of people.

“What on earth is the matter!” she asked herself.  As she alighted from the carriage her mother rushed forward and took her in her arms.

“My darling child,” she sobbed.  “What a narrow escape you have had.  You must never, never wander off alone again.”

“Why, mother, how did you know anything about it?”

“When you didn’t come home to supper I felt worried, for you had not told me that you were invited anywhere.  Then Nora came down to see you, and seemed surprised not to find you at home.  She said you had gone on a specimen hunt after school.  I became frightened and sent your father out at once to look for you.  He met the keepers with that dreadful man,” said Mrs. Harlowe, shuddering, “and they described you, telling him where you were and how they had met you.  Your father went straight out to the Forrests.  I suppose you just missed him.”