By this time I had come to my senses—­or such of them as remained; and I sent off one man for the doctor and another for the police.  When they had gone, I felt that, except for the servants, I was all alone in the house, and that I knew nothing—­of my Father or anything else; and a great longing came to me to have someone with me who could help me.  Then I thought of you and your kind offer in the boat under the willow-tree; and, without waiting to think, I told the men to get a carriage ready at once, and I scribbled a note and sent it on to you.”

She paused.  I did not like to say just then anything of how I felt.  I looked at her; I think she understood, for her eyes were raised to mine for a moment and then fell, leaving her cheeks as red as peony roses.  With a manifest effort she went on with her story: 

“The Doctor was with us in an incredibly short time.  The groom had met him letting himself into his house with his latchkey, and he came here running.  He made a proper tourniquet for poor Father’s arm, and then went home to get some appliances.  I dare say he will be back almost immediately.  Then a policeman came, and sent a message to the station; and very soon the Superintendent was here.  Then you came.”

There was a long pause, and I ventured to take her hand for an instant.  Without a word more we opened the door, and joined the Superintendent in the hall.  He hurried up to us, saying as he came: 

“I have been examining everything myself, and have sent off a message to Scotland Yard.  You see, Mr. Ross, there seemed so much that was odd about the case that I thought we had better have the best man of the Criminal Investigation Department that we could get.  So I sent a note asking to have Sergeant Daw sent at once.  You remember him, sir, in that American poisoning case at Hoxton.”

“Oh yes,” I said, “I remember him well; in that and other cases, for I have benefited several times by his skill and acumen.  He has a mind that works as truly as any that I know.  When I have been for the defence, and believed my man was innocent, I was glad to have him against us!”

“That is high praise, sir!” said the Superintendent gratified:  “I am glad you approve of my choice; that I did well in sending for him.”

I answered heartily: 

“Could not be better.  I do not doubt that between you we shall get at the facts—­and what lies behind them!”

We ascended to Mr. Trelawny’s room, where we found everything exactly as his daughter had described.

There came a ring at the house bell, and a minute later a man was shown into the room.  A young man with aquiline features, keen grey eyes, and a forehead that stood out square and broad as that of a thinker.  In his hand he had a black bag which he at once opened.  Miss Trelawny introduced us:  “Doctor Winchester, Mr. Ross, Superintendent Dolan.”  We bowed mutually, and he, without a moment’s delay, began his work.  We all waited, and eagerly watched him as he proceeded to dress the wound.  As he went on he turned now and again to call the Superintendent’s attention to some point about the wound, the latter proceeding to enter the fact at once in his notebook.