No noise for some time came from the house; but then the sounds, as if workmen were busy within it, were suddenly resumed, and with more vigour than before.

It was nearly two hours before Henry made the private signal which had been agreed upon as that which should proclaim his return; and then he and his brother, with Charles, who, when he heard of the matter, would, notwithstanding the persuasions of Flora to the contrary, come, got quietly over the fence at a part of the garden which was quite hidden from the house by abundant vegetation, and the whole three of them took up a position that tolerably well commanded a view of the house, while they were themselves extremely well hidden behind a dense mass of evergreens.

“Did you see that rascal, Jack Pringle?” said the admiral.

“Yes,” said Henry; “he is drunk.”

“Ah, to be sure.”

“And we had no little difficulty in shaking him off.  He suspected where we were going; but I think, by being peremptory, we got fairly rid of him.”

“The vagabond! if he comes here, I’ll brain him, I will, the swab.  Why, lately he’s done nothing but drink.  That’s the way with him.  He’ll go on sometimes for a year and more, and not take more than enough to do him good, and then all at once, for about six or eight weeks, he does nothing but drink.”

“Well, well, we can do without him,” said Henry.

“Without him!  I should think so.  Do you hear those fellows in the Hall at work?  D—­n me, if I haven’t all of a sudden thought what the reason of it all is.”

“What—­what?” said the doctor, anxiously.

“Why, that rascal Varney, you know, had his house burnt down.”

“Yes; well?”

“Yes, well.  I dare say he didn’t think it well.  But, however, he no doubt wants another; so, you see, my idea is, that he’s stealing the material from Bannerworth Hall.”

“Oh, is that your notion?”

“Yes, and a very natural one, I think, too, Master Doctor, whatever you may think of it.  Come, now, have you a better?”

“Oh, dear, no, certainly not; but I have a notion that something to eat would comfort the inward man much.”

“And so would something to drink, blow me if it wouldn’t,” said Jack Pringle, suddenly making his appearance.

The admiral made a rush upon him; but he was restrained by the others, and Jack, with a look of triumph, said,—­

“Why, what’s amiss with you now?  I ain’t drunk now.  Come, come, you have something dangerous in the wind, I know, so I’ve made up my mind to be in it, so don’t put yourself out of the way.  If you think I don’t know all about it, you are mistaken, for I do.  The vampyre is in the house yonder, and I’m the fellow to tackle him, I believe you, my boys.”

“Good God!” said the doctor, “what shall we do?”

“Nothing,” said Jack, as he took a bottle from his pocket and applied the neck of it to his lips—­“nothing—­nothing at all.”