And then the strangest thing of all happened. I opened my eyes. My
chair was drawn sideways to the fire and immediately facing the window.
The first thing that I saw was this. Pressed against it, peering into
the room, was the white face of a man, an entire stranger to me.



CHAPTER II

GOOD SAMARITANS

They both hurried to my side. I was sitting up in my chair, pointing,
my eyes fixed with surprise. I do not know even now why the incident
should so much have alarmed me, but it is a fact that for the moment I
was palsied with fear. There had been murder in the man's eyes,
loathsome things in his white unkempt face. My tongue clove to the roof
of my mouth. They gave me more brandy, and then I spoke.

"There was a man--looking in. A man's face there, at the window!"

Ray took up the lamp and strode to the door. When he returned he
exchanged a significant glance with Lady Angela.

"There is no one there now, at any rate," he said. "I dare say it was
fancy."

"It was not," I answered. "It was a man's face--a horrible face."

"The omnibus is coming back," he said quietly. "The servants shall have
a good look round."