She turned to Dick at her side. And now a sudden flush suffused her pallid cheeks, and her eyes dilated.
"It is you," she cried impetuously, "you that we have to thank for this! You that have brought all this upon us, you that allowed us to be preyed upon by a villain--screened him, helped him in his deceit, plotted with him! Being what he was, it was in his nature to cheat us. I forgive him, and pity him. But you I shall never forgive! Go, Mr. Miles. Whatever and whoever you are, go as you are asked. And go you too--true friend--brave gentleman! Go, both of you. Let us never see you again. Yet no! Stay--stay, all of you" (her face was changing, her words were growing faint)--"and hear what it was--he said--to me--and my answer, which is my answer still! Stay--one moment--and hear----"
Her words ceased altogether. Without a cry or a moan she sank senseless in her father's arms.
Philip Robson rushed forward. They stretched her on the cold stone. They tore open the collar round her neck, breaking the pretty brooch. They put brandy to her lips, and salts to her nostrils, and water upon her brow. Minutes passed, and there was no sign, no glimmer of returning life.
When Alice fell, Miles took one step forward, but no more. He stood there, leaning forward, unable to remove his eyes from the white lifeless face, scarcely daring to breathe.
There was no noise, no single word! The doctor (to his credit be it remembered) was trying all that he knew, quickly and quietly. The Colonel said not a word, but silently obeyed his nephew, and chafed the chill hands. Edmonstone fanned her face gently. Pinckney had disappeared from the group.
Robson suddenly looked up and broke the silence.
"He should be fetched at once. We want experience here. This is no ordinary faint."
Before the doctor had finished speaking, Miles wheeled round and darted to the gate. And there he found himself confronted by a short, slight, resolute opponent.
"You sha'n't escape," said Pinckney through his teeth, "just because the others can't watch you! You villain!"
Pinckney had heard only the end of what had passed on the steps, but that was enough to assure him that Miles had been unmasked as a criminal. Of course he would take the opportunity of all being preoccupied to escape, and did; and David faced Goliath in the gateway.