The children had vanished with their rescued darling.
There was not a creature in the court but herself, and there was the marquis, leaning half out of the window, and looking about.
'Who called me ?' he repeated--angrily, Dorothy thought.
All at once the meaning of it flashed upon her, and she was confounded--ready to sink with annoyance.

But she was not one to hesitate when a thing HAD to be done.

Keeping her hold of the dog's neck, for his collar was gone, she dragged him half-way towards the gate, then turning up to the marquis a face like a peony, replied-- 'I am the culprit, my lord.' 'By St.George! you are a brave damsel, and there is no culpa that I know of, except on the part of that intruding cur.' 'And the cur's mistress, my lord.

But, indeed, he is no cur, but a true mastiff.' 'What! is the animal thy property, fair cousin?
He is more than I bargained for.' 'He is mine, my lord, but I left him chained when I set out from Wyfern this morning.

That he got loose I confess I am not astonished, neither that he tracked me hither, for he has the eyes of a gaze-hound, and the nose of a bloodhound; but it amazes me to find him in the castle.' 'That must be inquired into,' said the marquis.
'I am very sorry he has carried himself so ill, my lord.