He himself, after packing her off with Narcissus, would remain and attend to the comfort of the guests, many of whom must bivouac at "The Dogs" for the night as best they could.
At midnight, or a little later, the barouche was announced.

It drew up close to the porch, axle-deep in snow.

Upstairs the orchestra was sawing out the strains of "Major Malley's Reel," as Endymion lifted his sister in and slammed the door upon her and Narcissus.

The noise prevented his hearing a sash-window lifted, immediately above the porch.
"Right away!" The inn-servant who had accompanied the Westcotes turned back to trim a candle flaring in the draughty passage.

But it so happened that, in starting, the coachman entangled his off-rein in the trace-buckle.
Endymion, in his polished hessians, ran round to unhitch it.
On the window-sill above, two deft hands quickly scooped up and moulded a snowball.
"He should turn up his coat-collar, the pig! _V'Ian pour le Commissaire!_" Endymion Westcote did not hear the voice; but as the vehicle rolled heavily forward, out of the darkness a snowball struck him accurately on the nape of the neck..