He (Ames) had observed some restlessness and excitement on the
part of Mr. Douglas that day; for he had seemed impatient and
irritable, which was unusual with him. He had not gone to bed
that night; but was in the pantry at the back of the house,
putting away the silver, when he heard the bell ring violently.
He heard no shot; but it was hardly possible he would, as the
pantry and kitchens were at the very back of the house and there
were several closed doors and a long passage between. The
housekeeper had come out of her room, attracted by the violent
ringing of the bell. They had gone to the front of the house
together.
As they reached the bottom of the stairs he had seen Mrs. Douglas
coming down it. No, she was not hurrying; it did not seem to him
that she was particularly agitated. Just as she reached the
bottom of the stair Mr. Barker had rushed out of the study. He
had stopped Mrs. Douglas and begged her to go back.
"For God's sake, go back to your room!" he cried. "Poor Jack is
dead! You can do nothing. For God's sake, go back!"
After some persuasion upon the stairs Mrs. Douglas had gone back.
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