minute Cuthbert does not come means that the next minute may bring
him."

"You don't believe he was hurt?" asked the girl.

"No," said Ford. "I believe Prothero found him, and I believe there
may have been a fight. But you heard what Pearsall said: 'The man
outside will tell.' If Cuthbert's in a position to tell, he is not
down an area with a knife in him."

He was interrupted by a faint report from the lowest floor, as
though the door to the street had been sharply slammed. Miss Dale
showed that she also had heard it.

"My uncle," she said, "making his escape !"

"It may be," Ford answered.

The report did not suggest to him the slamming of a door, but he
saw no reason for saying so to the girl.

With his fingers locked across his knees, Ford was leaning forward,
his eyes frowning, his lips tightly shut. At his side the girl
regarded him covertly. His broad shoulders, almost touching hers,
his strong jaw projecting aggressively, and the alert, observant
eyes gave her confidence. For three weeks she had been making a
fight single-handed. But she was now willing to cease struggling
and relax. Quite happily she placed herself and her safety in the
keeping of a stranger. Half to herself, half to the man, she
murmured: "It is like 'The Sieur de Maletroit's Door."'