Would it not be best to risk everything, and get away at once by the back of the house?
Just as I had resolved on venturing the worst, and making my escape forthwith, I heard the officers interrupt the doctor's lecture.
"Your lunch is a long time coming," said one of them.
"Moses is lazy," answered the doctor; "and the Madeira is in a remote part of the cellar.

Shall I ring again ?" "Hang your ringing again!" growled the runner, impatiently.

"I don't understand why our reserve men are not here yet.

Suppose you go and give them a whistle, Sam." "I don't half like leaving you," returned Sam.

"This learned gentleman here is rather a shifty sort of chap; and it strikes me that two of us isn't a bit too much to watch him." "What's that ?" exclaimed Sam's comrade, suspiciously.
A crash of broken crockery in the lower part of the house had followed that last word of the cautious officer's speech.