Anon the shadow of Mr.Tasker's head was seen wrestling fiercely with its back collar-stud.
"Mr.Tredgold!" said a sharp voice from above.
[Illustration: "'Mr.Tredgold!' said a sharp voice from above."] Mr.Tredgold sprang to his feet, overturning the chair in his haste, and gazed aloft.
"Miss Drewitt!" he cried, in accents of intense surprise.
"I am coming down," said the voice.
"Pray be careful," said Mr.Tredgold, anxiously; "it is very dark.

Can I help you ?" "Yes--you can go indoors," said Miss Drewitt.
Her tone was so decided and so bitter that Mr.Tredgold, merely staying long enough to urge extreme carefulness in the descent, did as he was desired.

He went into the sitting-room and, standing uneasily by the fireplace, tried to think out his line of action.

He was still floundering when he heard swift footsteps coming up the garden, and Miss Drewitt, very upright and somewhat flushed of face, confronted him.
"I--I called to see the captain," he said, hastily, "and Joseph told me you were in the garden.

I couldn't see you anywhere, so I took the liberty of sitting out there to wait for the captain's return." Miss Drewitt listened impatiently.