Immediately afterwards, her brother--she recognized his voice raised in anger--ran out of the house, followed by some of the male guests.

Terrified by the sight and the sound of the shots, Lady Agnes huddled on her dressing-gown hastily, and thrust her bare feet into slippers.

The next moment she was out of her bedroom and down the stairs.

A wild idea had entered her mind that perhaps Lambert had come secretly to The Manor, and had been shot by Garvington in mistake for a burglar.

The corridors and the hall were filled with guests more or less lightly attired, mostly women, white-faced and startled.