“If your prospective ladyship will pardon me I will now go to the telephone,” he countered.

Anything, even a mad jumble of incoherence in his talk with the Forbes household, was better than the troubled scrutiny of those clear brown eyes.  Leaving the door open so that his sister could hear his side of the conversation, he rang up No. 11 Fortescue Square.

The butler answered.

“That you, Tomlinson?” said Theydon.  “Will you ask Mr. Forbes if I am to turn up in time for afternoon tea?  If it is more convenient that I should arrive later I have lots of things to attend to, and can fill in a few hours easily.”

“I really don’t know what to say, sir,” came the astounding answer.  “Mrs. Forbes has been shot—­”

“Great heavens!”

“Yes, sir.  She was merely looking out through the drawing-room window, when some one fired at her from a passing motor car.”

“Do you mean that she is dead?”

“No, sir—­ not quite so bad as that.  The bullet struck her left shoulder.  A few inches lower and it would have pierced her heart.  The doctors are with her now.  I—­”

Some interruption took place on the line and the butler’s voice ceased.  Theydon, careless now as to what construction his sister might place on his words, was about to storm at the exchange for cutting the communication.  He meant to say that on no consideration would he inflict the presence of a stranger at such a terrible moment, when a coldly metallic, almost harsh question reached him.

“That you, Theydon?”

“Yes,” he said.  Forbes was speaking.

“I was crossing the hall, and guessed it might be you.  Come as soon as you are at liberty.  You will be welcome.  If we are to be besieged I want some one who will not be afraid to shoot.  These policemen are too scrupulous.  They saw some cursed Mongol leaning out through the window of the closed car, and could have either shot him or put a bullet so close that his aim would have been disturbed.  As it was, my wife only escaped death by the mercy of Providence.  She bent slightly at the very instant the would-be assassin fired, and the bullet simply lacerated her shoulder.  After this, I’ll defend myself and my womenfolk, but I need at least one other man whom I can trust.  Will you come?”

“I’ll be with you within twenty minutes.”

He heard the clang of the receiver being replaced on its rest at the other end of the wire.  Somehow, the sound conveyed a new determination on Forbes’s part.  He had his back to the wall.  No matter what view the law took of his action subsequently, he would protect his dear ones at all hazards.

After that, Theydon hesitated no longer.

“Bates,” he cried, “throw into a bag such clothes as I shall need for a few days’ stay in Mr. Forbes’s house.  When I am gone, pack your own boxes and take a week’s holiday.  Go anywhere you like, out of London, but go at once.  Send me your address, care of Mr. Forbes, and I’ll let you know when I want you again.”