In any case Mr. Hammond felt that it was his duty to send some attendant to Lady Maulevrier, some member of the household who was familiar with her ladyship’s habits, her own maid if that person could be unearthed easily.  He knew that the servants slept in a separate wing; but he thought it more than likely that her ladyship’s personal attendant occupied a room near her mistress.

He went back to the corridor and looked round him in doubt, for a moment or two.

Close against her ladyship’s door there was a swing door, covered with red cloth, which seemed to communicate with the old part of the house.  John Hammond pushed this door, and it yielded to his hand, revealing a lamp-lit passage, narrow, old-fashioned, and low.  He thought it likely that Lady Maulevrier’s maid might occupy a room in this half-deserted wing.  As he pushed open the door he saw an elderly man coming towards him, with a candle in his hand, and with the appearance of having huddled on his clothes hastily.

‘You heard that scream?’ said Hammond.

’Yes.  It was her ladyship, I suppose.  Nightmare.  She is subject to nightmare.’

’It is very dreadful.  Her whole countenance was convulsed just now, when I went into her room to see what was wrong.  I was almost afraid of a fit of some kind.  Ought not her maid to go to her?’

‘She wants no assistance,’ the man answered, coolly.  ’It was only a dream.  It is not the first time I have been awakened by a shriek like that.  It is a kind of nightmare, no doubt; and it passes off in a few minutes, and leaves her sleeping calmly.’

He went to her ladyship’s door, pushed it open a little way, and looked in.  ‘Yes, she is sleeping as quietly as an infant,’ he said, shutting the door softly as he spoke.

’I am very glad; but surely she ought to have her maid near her at night, if she is subject to those attacks.’

‘It is no attack, I tell you.  It is nothing but a dream,’ answered Steadman impatiently.

’Yet you were frightened, just as I was, or you would not have got up and dressed,’ said Hammond, looking at the man suspiciously.

He had heard of this old servant Steadman, who was supposed to enjoy more of her ladyship’s confidence than any one else in the household; but he had never spoken to the man before that night.

’Yes, I came.  It was my duty to come, knowing her ladyship’s habits.  I am a light sleeper, and that scream woke me instantly.  If her ladyship’s maid were wanted I should call her.  I am a kind of watch-dog, you see, sir.’

‘You seem to be a very faithful dog.’

’I have been in her ladyship’s service more than forty years.  I have reason to be faithful.  I know her ladyship’s habits better than any one in the house.  I know that she had a great deal of trouble in her early life, and I believe the memory of it comes back upon her sometimes in her dreams, and gets the better of her.’