And then, yes, the man sitting up in the big four-post bed did hear some very curious noises.

It was as if furniture was being thrown violently about, and as if crockery was being smashed--but a very, very long way off.
This was certainly most extraordinary! He had done Tapster an injustice.
He jumped out of bed.

"Wait a minute!" he exclaimed.

"I'll get my dressing-gown, and we'll go and see what it's all about.

What extraordinary sounds! Where on earth do they come from ?" "They come from the servants' quarters," said Tapster.
There came a sudden silence, and then an awful crash.
"How long have these noises gone on ?" asked Panton.
He had put on his dressing-gown, and was now looking for his slippers.
"Oh, for a long time." Tapster's hand was trembling, partly from excitement, partly from fear.
"How d'you account for it ?" he asked.
"One of the servants has gone mad drunk," replied Panton briefly.
"That's what it is--without a doubt! We'd better go down and see what can be done." And then, as there came the distant sounds of breaking glass, he exclaimed: "I wonder everyone hasn't woken up!" "There is a heavy padded door between that part of the house and this.
My room is on the other side, over what they call the school-room.