“Oh, Heaven!” exclaimed Jack.

“He has been indefatigable in his search,” continued Winifred, “and has even journeyed to Manchester.  But though he visited Sir Rowland Trenchard’s seat, Ashton Hall, he could gain no tidings of him, or of his uncle, Sir Rowland, who, it seems, has left the country.”

“Never to return,” remarked Jack, gloomily.  “Before to-morrow morning I will ascertain what has become of Thames, or perish in the attempt.  And now tell me what has happened to my poor mother?”

“Ever since your last capture, and Thames’s mysterious disappearance, she has been dreadfully ill,” replied Winifred; “so ill, that each day was expected to be her last.  She has also been afflicted with occasional returns of her terrible malady.  On Tuesday night, she was rather better, and I had left her for a short time, as I thought, asleep on the sofa in the little parlour of which she is so fond—­”

“Well,” exclaimed Jack.

“On my return, I found the window open, and the room vacant.  She was gone.”

“Did you discover any trace of footsteps?” inquired Jack eagerly.

“There were some marks near the window; but whether recently made or not could not be ascertained,” replied Winifred.

“Oh God!” exclaimed Jack, in a tone of the bitterest anguish.  “My worst fears are realized.  She is in Wild’s power.”

“I ought to add,” continued Winifred, “that one of her shoes was picked up in the garden, and that prints of her feet were discovered along the soft mould; whether made in flying from any one, or from rushing forth in distracted terror, it is impossible to say.  My father thought the latter.  He has had the whole country searched; but hitherto without success.”

“I know where she will be found, and how,” rejoined Jack with a shudder.

“I have something further to tell you,” pursued Winifred.  “Shortly after your last visit to Dollis Hill, my father was one evening waylaid by a man, who informed him that he had something to communicate respecting Thames, and had a large sum of money, and some important documents to deliver to him, which would be given up, provided he would undertake to procure your liberation.”

“It was Blueskin,” observed Jack.

“So my father thought,” replied Winifred; “and he therefore instantly fired upon him.  But though the shot took effect, as was evident from the stains on the ground, the villain escaped.”

“Your father did right,” replied Jack, with some bitterness.  “But if he had not fired that shot, he might have saved Thames, and possessed himself of papers which would have established his birth, and his right to the estates of the Trenchard family.”

“Would you have had him spare my mother’s murderer?” cried Winifred.

“Ho, no,” replied Jack.  “And yet—­but it is only part of the chain of ill-luck that seems wound around me.  Listen to me, Winifred.”