“Now, now,” said Superintendent Battle soothingly. “Don’t you take on so. The young gentleman isn’t dead, I’ll be bound. See if you can find the lights and turn them on.”

Loraine obeyed. She stumbled across the room, found the switch by the door and pressed it down. The room was flooded with light. Superintendent Battle uttered a sigh of relief.

“It’s all right⁠—he’s only shot in the right arm. He’s fainted through loss of blood. Come and give me a hand with him.”

There was a pounding on the library door. Voices were heard, asking, expostulating, demanding. Loraine looked doubtfully at it.

“Shall I⁠—?”

“No hurry,” said Battle. “We’ll let them in presently. You come and give me a hand.”