to do you injury. But you are not hurt. You are, in fact, quite well — don’t imagine anything else. Sir Cyril Smart is here; he’s hurt; Deschamps has wounded him. Deschamps is harmless for the moment, but she may recover and break out again. So I can’t leave to get help. You must go. You have fainted, but I am sure you can walk quite well. Go up the stairs here, and walk along the hall till you come to the front door; it is not fastened. Go out into the street, and bring back two gendarmes — two, mind — and a cab, if you can. Do you understand?”

“Yes, but how — ”

“Now, please go at once!” I insisted grimly and coldly. “We can talk afterwards. Just do as you’re told.”