Master Lionel shrank back in his chair at the sound.

The thing would be doing even now.

In his mind he saw it all--saw his brother come running in his eagerness to the gates of Godolphin Court, and then dark forms resolve themselves from the surrounding darkness and fall silently upon him.

He saw him struggling a moment on the ground, then, bound hand and foot, a gag thrust into his mouth, he beheld him in fancy borne swiftly down the slope to the beach and so to the waiting boat.
Another half-hour sat he there.

The thing was done by now, and this assurance seemed to quiet him a little.
Then came Nicholas again to babble of some possible mischance having overtaken his master.
"What mischance should have overtaken him ?" growled Lionel, as if in scorn of the idea.
"I pray none indeed," replied the servant.