JARVIS. It's been a good many years since those boys jumped, Rusty.
(_Noise off stage of running._) Hark! Listen! (_He crosses to_ L.C.,
_pistol drawn; stands listening._) Somebody's running--coming this
way---- (_Dull thud at back._)

RUSTY. I want to go home!

JARVIS. What do you know about that?

RUSTY. I don't want to know nothin' about it.

JARVIS. I thought so.

RUSTY. What is it?

JARVIS. The man with a smoky lantern has been up those stairs.

RUSTY. You ain't goin' up there, is you?

JARVIS. I am not--because the Duke or some of his men are probably
waiting for me at the top of the stairs with a big long gun, and I'm no
book hero.

RUSTY. Suppose it's the Prince?

JARVIS. Well, suppose it is the Prince. He might blow my head off,
because he doesn't know what I came here for--and if it's someone else,
they'll blow my head off, because they do know.

RUSTY. (_Looks at ceiling and following supposed sounds with head_
R.C.) Sounds like somebody was runnin' round.

JARVIS. (C.) They're trying to scare us, Rusty. They're probably
watching every move we make. That's where that pounding comes from. Why
don't they shoot? They're trying to scare us, like they did the poor
boobs down in the village. (RUSTY _crosses to fireplace_.) They want to
get us out of here. They want to get us out of this room. Rusty, someone
was working in the room. Now, where was he working? Where was he----

RUSTY. (_Meanwhile has crossed to mantel and picked up hammer and
chisel_) Look here, Marse Warren--look y'ere! (_A few steps from
fireplace._)

JARVIS. (_Crossing to_ RUSTY) What is it, Rusty?

RUSTY. (_Handing them to_ JARVIS) Look at them.

JARVIS. Where did you find them, Rusty?

RUSTY. (_Pointing to mantel_) Up there.

JARVIS. Good boy, Rusty! Now I'll tell you something. These are his
tools. Someone was working in this room, so we've beaten him to it. Now,
where was he working? (_Hands on floor._) Mortar on floor. (_Hands on
mantel._) Mortar on the mantel----(_Puts down tools, looking up and
pointing._) Look at that! That's where he was working, Rusty, and we've
beat him to it--we've beat him!

(_Long pause. Both turn simultaneously and look at picture._ JARVIS
_draws revolver_. RUSTY _turns to_ JARVIS _and sees that he looks at
picture_.)

RUSTY. (_Scared voice_) Did you feel that, too?

(JARVIS _crosses slowly and cautiously to picture; feels all around
picture and lights a match to examine it; passes lig