They had come to rescue Louise, whom they imagined confined in a lonely deserted villa with no companion other than the woman who guarded her.

Arthur's own detective opened the door to them and Diana Von Taer, whom they certainly did not expect to meet here, confronted them with the thrilling statement that Louise had gone.
Arthur was the first to recover his wits.
"Gone!" he repeated; "gone where ?" "She had escaped--run away!" explained Diana, in real distress.
"When ?" asked Uncle John.
"Just now.

Within an hour, wasn't it, Cerise ?" "At ten o'clock I left her, now she is gone," said the old woman, who appeared as greatly agitated as her mistress.
"Good gracious! you don't mean to say she's left the house in this storm ?" exclaimed Patsy, aghast at the very thought.
"What shall we do?
What _can_ we do ?" demanded Beth, eagerly.
Fogerty started up the stairs.

Cerise turned to show him the way, and the others followed in an awed group.
The key was in the lock of the door to the missing girl's room, but the door itself now stood ajar.

Fogerty entered, cast a sharp look around and walked straight to the window.