Five miles away, in this same evening glow, was Constance Bledlow walking or sitting in her aunts’ garden?  Or was she nearer still—­at Penfold Rectory, just beyond the moor he was climbing, the old rectory-house where Sorell and Radowitz were staying?  He had taken good care to give that side of the hills a wide berth since his return home.  But a great deal of the long ridge was common ground, and in the private and enclosed parts there were several rights of way crossing the moor, besides the one lonely road traversing it from end to end on which he had met Constance Bledlow.  If he had not been so tied at home, and so determined not to run any risks of a meeting, he might very well have come across Sorell at least, if not Radowitz, on the high ground dominating the valleys on either side.  Sorell was a great walker.  But probably they were as anxious to avoid a casual meeting as he was.

The evening was rapidly darkening, and as he climbed he searched the hillside with his quick eyes for any sign of his father.  Once or twice he stopped to call: 

“Father!”

The sound died away, echoing among the fields and hollows of the moor.  But there was no answer.  He climbed further.  He was now near the stream which descended through the park, and its loud jubilant voice burst upon him, filling the silence.

Then, above the plashing of the stream and the rising of the wind, he heard suddenly a cry: 

“Help!”

It came from a point above his head.  A sudden horror came upon him.  He dashed on.  In another minute a man’s figure appeared, higher up, dark against the reddened sky.  The man put one hand to his mouth, and shouted through it again—­“Help!”

Douglas came up with him.  In speechless amazement he saw that it was Otto Radowitz, without a coat, bareheaded, pale and breathless.

“There’s a man here, Falloden.  I think it’s your father.  He’s awfully ill.  I believe he’s dying.  Come at once!  I’ve been shouting for a long time.”

Douglas said nothing.  He rushed on, following Radowitz, who took a short cut bounding through the deep ling of the moor.  Only a few yards till Douglas perceived a man, with a grey, drawn face, who was lying full length on a stretch of grass beside the stream, his head and shoulders propped against a low rock on which a folded coat had been placed as a pillow.

“Father!”

Sir Arthur opened his eyes.  He was drawing deep, gasping breaths, the strong life in him wrestling still.  But the helplessness, the ineffable surrender and defeat of man’s last hour, was in his face.

Falloden knelt down.

“Father!—­don’t you know me?  Well soon carry you home.  It’s Duggy!” No answer.  Radowitz had gone a few yards away, and was also kneeling, his face buried in his hands, his back turned to the father and son.

Douglas made another agonised appeal, and the grey face quivered.  A whisper passed the lips.