It must have been midnight when I opened my eyes; a clock was striking as though it never would stop. My mouth seemed fire; a pungent flavor filled my nostrils; the wineglass felt cold against my teeth. “That’s more like it!” muttered a voice close to my ear. An arm was withdrawn from under my shoulders. I was allowed to sink back upon some pillows. And now I saw where I was. The room was large and poorly lighted. I lay in my clothes on an old four-poster bed. And my enemies were standing over me in a group.
of us start and stare. It was the soft shutting of some upstairs door.
“I thought we had the house to ourselves?” cried I, my miserable nerves on edge in an instant.
“So did I,” he answered, very pale. “My servants must have come back. By the Lord Harry, they shall hear of this!”
He sprang to a door,