“Another of those cursed baboons robbing the garden,” remarked Marnham reflectively.

“I think he is going to rob the house also,” I replied, turning to point to something dark that seemed to be leaping up on to the verandah.

Next moment we heard Heda utter a little cry of alarm, and a man say in a low fierce voice—­

“So I have caught you at last, have I!”

“The doctor has returned from his business rounds sooner than was expected, and I think that we had better join the party,” I remarked, and made a bee line for the stoep, Marnham following me.

I think that I arrived just in time to prevent mischief.  There, with a revolver in his hand, stood Rodd, tall and formidable, his dark face looking like that of Satan himself, a very monument of rage and jealousy.  There in front of him on the couch sat Heda, grasping its edge with her fingers, her cheeks as pale as a sheet and her eyes shining.  By her side was Anscombe, cool and collected as usual, I noticed, but evidently perplexed.

“If there is any shooting to be done,” he was saying, “I think you had better begin with me.”

His calmness seemed to exasperate Rodd, who lifted the revolver.  But I too was prepared, for in that house I always went armed.  There was no time to get at the man, who was perhaps fifteen feet away, and I did not want to hurt him.  So I did the best I could; that is, I fired at the pistol in his hand, and the light being good, struck it near the hilt and knocked it off the barrel before the he could press the trigger, if he really meant to shoot.

“That’s a good shot,” remarked Anscombe who had seen me, while Rodd stared at the hilt which he still held.

“A lucky one,” I answered, walking forward.  “And now, Dr. Rodd, will you be so good as to tell me what you mean by flourishing a revolver, presumably loaded, in the faces of a lady and an unarmed man?”

“What the devil is that to you,” he asked furiously, “and what do you mean by firing at me?”

“A great deal,” I answered, “seeing that a young woman and my friend are concerned.  As for firing at you, had I done so you would not be asking questions now.  I fired at the pistol in your hand, but if there is more trouble next time it shall be at the holder,” and I glanced at my revolver.

Seeing that I meant business he made no reply, but turned upon Marnham who had followed me.

“This is your work, you old villain,” he said in a low voice that was heavy with hate.  “You promised your daughter to me.  She is engaged to me, and now I find her in this wanderer’s arms.”

“What have I to do with it?” said Marnham.  “Perhaps she has changed her mind.  You had better ask her.”

“There is no need to ask me,” interrupted Heda, who now seemed to have got her nerve again.  “I have changed my mind.  I never loved you, Dr. Rodd, and I will not marry you.  I love Mr. Anscombe here, and as he has asked me to be his wife I mean to marry him.”