"Where you will, doctor, only we must escape from here. The others are off, and I must go and help save the rest. You don't wish to see her in the hands of the police, appearing against her brother and his confederates?"

"G.o.d help me, no!" cried Chester.

"Come along, then, man. It's all over now. I knew it must come.

Doctor, you saved my life. I must trust you. I know you love her, and that she loves you. I trust her to your honour as a gentleman."

"You may," said Chester, "and--"

"Don't talk, man. Come while the way is open. They'll break in, as sure as we are here. Come."

Chester lifted Marion in his arms and bore her toward the door, Robert Clareborough having caught up the doctor's hat, and led the way into the hall, where the police were thundering at the door; and then downstairs, where sounds were heard from the area, as if someone was trying the door there.

"Shall I take her?" said Robert, as they reached the lower pa.s.sage.

"No; I can carry her easily."

"This way, then," and to Chester's astonishment he turned into the short pa.s.sage at the end of which was the ordinary-looking door.

"Humph! shut," he said, with a bitter laugh. "Jem's parting act of kindness; he must have been the last."

"Where does that door lead?" cried Chester, as Marion uttered a sigh indicative of recovery.

"To safety, doctor," said the young man, sadly. "Foxes always have a second hole, and a way of using it."

He drew a key from his pocket, flung open the door, and made room for his companion to bear his sister into the square lobby, which was littered with wedges, the powder tin, pistols, keys, hammer, and the other contents of the portmanteau standing in one corner, while in one spot a quant.i.ty of sawdust seemed to have been spilled.

All was plainly seen by a bright reflected light which shone out from the small gla.s.s bulb in the ceiling, shedding a strange glow, while the odour of exploded powder struck on Chester's nostrils at once.

As soon as they were inside, Robert calmly drew the door close, and just then Marion opened her eyes and looked wildly from one to the other.

"Where am I?" she said faintly.

"Where you have never been before, sis, but quite safe," replied her brother. "There, don't look like that; the doctor and I are friends."

"Ah, I remember now," she cried wildly, and she struggled to her feet, and seized her brother's arms. "Oh, Rob, what have I done?"

"The best thing you ever did in your life. I am glad it has come to an end; but I must be off. I can't face the dock. Too great a coward, I suppose, dear. There, G.o.d bless you! I hope you'll be very happy now."

"No, no, Rob! I cannot leave you."

"Eh?" he said, smiling bitterly, as he took out another key. "Yes; he has promised me, dear, and he is as true as steel. There, I trust him, and you feel as if you can. Take her somewhere, doctor, where the police cannot find her out. She's innocent enough, but no one would believe. Come, we may as well get right away, though I suppose it would be hours before they could get through here. I never thought I should some day be showing you our secrets, sis," he continued lightly; "certainly not to Dr Chester. There we are."

He had thrust the small bright key he had held into the lock of the iron door, and turned it, the bolts yielding easily in spite of the grit of powder still left in; and clinging now to Chester's arm as the door was swung open, Marion, at a word from her brother, stepped forward into the iron-floored receptacle, then he followed and closed the door behind him with a sharp metallic clang.

In the demoralisation which had ensued it had been undoubtedly sauve qui peut, only one of the party seeming to think of anyone else. This was the old professor, who hurried upstairs, unlocked the chamber door, and brought down his wife, who proved well enough to follow him.

The result was that when Robert Clareborough, to Chester's wonderment, hurried his companions through pa.s.sage and crypt, and up again into the book-c.u.mbered house, all was perfectly still, the dusty place looking as if it had not had a soul therein for years.

"This way, Marion," said Robert, coolly. "Poor old uncle! he will break his heart about leaving his books; pretty choice, too, some of them."

There was no reply, and he led sister and doctor out through the back door, down a weed-grown, desolate-looking garden, and into the stables at the bottom, the entrance being open.

"Now then," he said, "you must lose no time. Once out in the mews, make for the street, and you are safe. Good-bye, Marion dear."

"No, no, Robert!" cried Marion, flinging her arms about his neck; "you are still weak and ill. I cannot leave you."

"You prefer to go with me?" said the young man, smiling.

"Yes."

"Ah, well, it's very good of you, old darling, but you can't; perhaps in an hour I shall be in a police cell."

"Rob!"

"True enough, old girl; and if I am, with the knowledge that you are arrested too, I shall make an end of myself."

"Oh no, no, no!"

"But I shall. You know me. I don't make empty threats. Listen: you must escape. Jem and Paddy are on the way to the station by now, to fetch those two away from The Towers. Be sensible, and we shall all get away. You will obey me, dear?"

"I always have, Rob."

"Then go with the doctor. We'll trust him. Now, not a word. If you keep me still talking, we shall have the police round here at the back, and be all taken before we can get away. Chester, I trust you, even if I am a scoundrel. Now then, out in the mews, and walk together. Take no notice of me, and don't think I am forsaking you, Marion. I must go, or you will be taken too."

Chester took Marion's hand and drew it through his arm, as he stepped out into the mews, and making a desperate effort to preserve her calmness, the trembling girl walked steadily by his side as they made for the end of the place, Robert Clareborough pa.s.sing them coolly enough on the other side, lighting a cigar as he walked on fairly fast.

Just as Robert reached the end of the mews, a dozen yards in front of them, Marion started as if a sudden spasm had shot through her, for a couple of policemen suddenly turned the corner, hesitated as they saw him and seemed about to stop, but the young man's coolness saved him.

For just as they were hesitating he turned off the narrow pavement into the road and crossed diagonally toward them.

"Can you direct me to Vincent Square?" he said.

One of the constables gave the route, with the firsts and seconds to right and left, and as Chester and Marion were pa.s.sing, the young man said shortly--"Thanks, I see," and they heard his step behind, while the police continued their way down the mews.

"I'll take a cab as soon as we get a little farther away. Try and be calm," whispered Chester. "Your brother has escaped."

"Is--is he followed?" said Marion, faintly.

"No; his coolness saved him. The police have gone on down the mews, but I dare not look round to see if they are on our track."

She made no reply, but hung more heavily upon his arm, while he tried hard to recover his own composure and think out what was best to be done under the circ.u.mstances.

His first thought had been to take a cab, but feeling that they might still be watched, or, if not, that the various cabmen about would be questioned as to whom they took up close to the mews, or else, upon the matter getting into the papers, that they might volunteer the information, he decided to make first for the railway, and with Marion hanging more and more heavily upon his arm he led her out into the main street, nodded to the first pa.s.sing cab-driver, and said, "Victoria."

"Where are you taking me?" said Marion, faintly, as he sank back beside her.

"Where you will be safe," he replied, pressing her hand. "You have promised to trust me, so sit still and take no heed of the way I take you. I don't think we are watched, but it is impossible to say."

He heard her draw her breath painfully, and as he glanced sideways he could read in her face the effort she was making.