“We’re expecting him back every moment,” said Mr. Tasker, encouragingly.

Mr. Tredgold moved his foot forward again and pondered.  “It’s very late, but I wanted to see him rather particularly,” he murmured, as he stepped into the room.

“Miss Drewitt’s in the garden,” said Joseph.

Mr. Tredgold started and eyed him suspiciously.  Mr. Tasker’s face, however, preserving its usual appearance of stolid simplicity, his features relaxed and he became thoughtful again.

“Perhaps I might go into the garden,” he suggested.

“I should if I was you, sir,” said Joseph, preceding him and throwing open the back door.  “It’s fresher out there.”

Mr. Tredgold stepped into the garden and stood blinking in the sudden darkness.  There was no moon and the night was cloudy, a fact which accounted for his unusual politeness towards a cypress of somewhat stately bearing which stood at one corner of the small lawn.  He replaced his hat hastily, and an apologetic remark concerning the lateness of his visit was never finished.  A trifle confused, he walked down the garden, peering right and left as he went, but without finding the object of his search.  Twice he paced the garden from end to end, and he had just arrived at the conclusion that Mr. Tasker had made a mistake when a faint sound high above his head apprised him of the true state of affairs.

He stood listening in amazement, but the sound was not repeated.  Ordinary prudence and a sense of the fitness of things suggested that he should go home; inclination suggested that he should seat himself in the deck-chair at the foot of the crow’s-nest and await events.  He sat down to consider the matter.

Sprawling comfortably in the chair he lit his pipe, his ear on the alert to catch the slightest sound of the captive in the cask above.  The warm air was laden with the scent of flowers, and nothing stirred with the exception of Mr. Tasker’s shadow on the blind of the kitchen window.  The clock in the neighbouring church chimed the three-quarters, and in due time boomed out the hour of ten.  Mr. Tredgold knocked the ashes from his pipe and began seriously to consider his position.  Lights went out in the next house.  Huge shadows appeared on the kitchen blind and the light gradually faded, to reappear triumphantly in the room above.  Anon the shadow of Mr. Tasker’s head was seen wrestling fiercely with its back collar-stud.

“Mr. Tredgold!” said a sharp voice from above.

[Illustration:  “‘Mr. Tredgold!’ said a sharp voice from above.”]

Mr. Tredgold sprang to his feet, overturning the chair in his haste, and gazed aloft.

“Miss Drewitt!” he cried, in accents of intense surprise.

“I am coming down,” said the voice.

“Pray be careful,” said Mr. Tredgold, anxiously; “it is very dark.  Can I help you?”

“Yes—­you can go indoors,” said Miss Drewitt.