A man, who seemed to be the leader of the party, uttered an exclamation of fury as the light fell upon the figures of the two men at the open gate.
"Cut the villains down!" he shouted.
"Stop!" Desmond cried, in a loud voice.

"I am an officer of O'Brien's regiment of foot.

I heard a scream, and a woman's cry for help, and, fearing that foul play was going on, I made my entry here." The man, who had drawn his sword, paused.
"You have done wrong, sir.

The cries you heard were those of a mad woman.

You had better withdraw at once.