Dixon and I will stay here. But first--tell me--after I spoke to you
here--did you go in to Mr. Melrose?"
"I knocked, sir. But he shouted to me--angry like--to go away--till he
rang. I went back to t' kitchen, and I had nobbut closed yon door behind
me--when I heard t' firin'. I brast it open again--an' saw a man--wi'
summat roun' his head--fleein' doon t' gallery. My God!--my God!--"
"The man who did it was in the gallery while you and I were speaking to
each other," said Faversham, calmly, as he rose; "and he got in through
my window, while I was with Mr. Melrose." He described briefly the
passage of the murderer through his own room. "Tell the police to have
the main line stations watched without a moment's delay. The man's game
would be to get to one or other of them across country. There'll be no
marks on him--he fired from a distance--but his boots are muddy. About
five foot ten I should think--a weedy kind of fellow. Go and wake Tonson,
and be back as quick as you possibly can. And listen!--on your way to the
stables call the gardener. Send him for the farm men, and tell them to
search the garden, and the woods by the river. They'll find me there. Or
stay--one of them can come here, and remain with Mrs. Dixon, while I'm
gone. Let them bring lanterns--quick!"
In less than fifteen minutes the motor, with Dixon and the new chauffeur,
Tonson, had left the Tower, and was rushing at forty miles an hour along
the Pengarth road.
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