now in genuine alarm, he went below again, stopped Fred Caunter,
the footman, and asked him to call out Sir Walter.

Fred waited until his master had said a brief grace before meat;
then he stepped to his side and explained, that his nephew desired
to see him.

"Good patience! What's the matter?" asked the old man as he rose
and joined Henry in the hall.

Then his nephew spoke, and indicated his alarm. He stammered a
little, but strove to keep calm and state facts clearly.

"It's like this. I'm afraid you'll be rather savage, but I can't
talk now. Tom and I had a yarn when you'd gone to bed, and he was
awfully keen to spend the night in the Grey Room."

"I did not wish it."

"I know--we were wrong--but we were both death on it, and we
tossed up, and he won."

"Where is he?"

"Up there now, looking out of the window. I've called him and
made a row at the door, but he doesn't answer. He's locked himself
in, apparently."

"What have you done, Henry? We must get to him instantly. Tell
Caunter--no, I will. Don't breathe a syllable of this to anybody