.."
He stopped me with a hand upon my arm.
"I don't know. But she'll tell us when she comes around. I only hope
they'll get Silva. That would make the victory complete."
He paused, for the hum of a motor-car came up the drive, and an
instant later we caught the glare of the acetylenes. Then a voice
hailed us.
"Hello, there," it called. "Shall I come up?"
"Is it you, doctor?" asked Godfrey, leaning out.
"Yes."
"Come right up, then, to Miss Vaughan's room."
We met him at the stair-head.
"Oh, it's you!" he said, recognising us. "What has happened now?"
"It's Miss Vaughan--she's been half-suffocated. But how did you get
in?"
"The gates were open," Hinman answered, "so I drove right through. Is
Miss Vaughan in here?" and when Godfrey nodded, he opened the door and
closed it softly behind him.
"Open!" repeated Godfrey, staring at me. "Open! Then that is the way
Silva went!"
"Yes, yes," I agreed. "He had the key. It was he who let me out."
"And locked the gate after you?"
"Yes--I heard the key turn."
Without a word, Godfrey hurried down the stairs. At the foot we met
Simmonds.
"We've searched the grounds," he said, "but haven't found anyone.
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