"What the deuce is the matter?" demanded Random, entering. "Did
you call out, Painter. I fancied I heard something."
The constable came in again.
"I did call out, sir," he confessed. "I was half asleep in that
chair, when I suddenly became wide awake, and believed I saw a
face looking at me round the corner of the screen. I jumped up,
calling for you, sir, and upset the screen."
"Well? well?" demanded Sir Frank impatiently, and seeing that
the man hesitated.
"I saw no one, sir. All the same, I had an idea, and I have
still, that a man came through the window and peered at me from
behind the screen."
"The man who attacked Mrs. Jasher?"
"I can't say, sir. But there was someone. At any rate he's gone
again, if he really did come, and there is no chance of finding
him. It's like pea-soup outside."
Hope and Random simultaneously stepped through the window, but
could not see an inch before them, so thick was the sea-fog and
so dense was the darkness. Returning, they replaced the screen,
and, telling Painter to be more on the alert, went back shivering
to the fire in the dining-room. When they were seated again,
Archie put a question.
"Do you think that policeman was dreaming?" he asked
meditatively.
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