58 FOR THE FLAG

“ A cannon shot,” he said.

“We heard it,” the engineer answered, slightly shrugging
his shoulders.

“That means that our performance at Healthful House
has been discovered,” the Captain continued.

“Undoubtedly,” replied Serké, “and this booming
means the order to close the passes,”

“What has that to do with us?” the Count asked
in a calm tone.

“Nothing,” answered the engineer.

Captain Spade was right in saying that by that time the
disappearance of Roch and his keeper was known to the
staff.of Healthful House.

In the morning when the doctor went to No. 17 to pay
his usual visit he found the room empty. So soon as the
Principal heard of the catastrophe, he ordered the grounds
to be searched. The investigation revealed that although
the door at the foot of the hill was locked, the key was not
in the lock, and also that. the bolts had been drawn from
their staples.

There could be no doubt that it was by this door the
abduction had been effected, either during the evening or
during the night.

Who had done it? No one could offer a supposition.
The only thing known was that at half-past seven in the
evening one of the resident doctors had visited M. Roch,
who was then undergoing a violent paroxysm.

After he had remained for a considerable time with the
patient, the doctor left him sleeping, and quitted Pavilion