nd-floor.
When the floor is disconnected one may advance three or four steps,
either from the window or door, and then that whole part turns on a
hinge and slides you into a padded strong-room beneath, where you may
kick your heels until you are released. There is a central oasis between
the hinges, where the furniture is grouped for the night. The flooring
flies into position again when the weight of the intruder is removed,
and there he must bide, while I can always take a peep at him by this
simple little optical arrangement. I thought it might amuse you to have
a look at my prisoners before I handed them over to the head-constable,
who I see is now coming up the avenue."

"The poor burglars!" cried Laura. "It is no wonder that they look
bewildered, for I suppose, Mr. Haw, that they neither know where they
are, nor how they came there. I am so glad to know that you guard
yourself in this way, for I have often thought that you ran a danger."

"Have you so?" said he, smiling round at her. "I think that my house
is fairly burglar-proof. I have one window which may be used as an
entrance, the centre one of the three of my laboratory. I keep it so
because, to tell the truth, I am somewhat of a night prowler myself, and
when I treat myself to a ramble under the stars I like to slip in and
out without ceremony. It would, however, be a fortunate rogue who picked
the only safe entrance out of a hundred, and even then he might find
pitfalls. Here is the constable, but you must not go, for Miss McIntyre
has still something to see in my little place. If you will step into the
billiard-room I shall be with you in a very few moments."

CHAPTER VIII. A BILLIONAIRE'S PLANS.

That morning, and many mornings both before and afterwards, were spent
by Laura at the New Hall examining the treasures of the museum, playing
with the thousand costly toys which Raffles Haw had collected, or
sallying out from the smoking-room in the crystal chamber into the long
line of luxurious hot-houses. Haw would walk demurely beside her as
she flitted from one thing to another like a butterfly among flowers,
watching her out of the corner of his eyes, and taking a quiet pleasure
in her delight. The only joy which his costly possessions had ever
brought him was that which came from the entertainment of others.

By this time his attentions towards Laura McIntyre had become so
marked that they could hardly be mistaken. He visibly brightened in
h