or of
the book-shelves, which fitted the lock of the Admiral's desk, though
the owner was not aware of it. In a moment the intruder had unlocked the
high and massive standing-desk, thrown back the cover, and placed one
candlestick among the documents. Many of them he brushed aside, as
useless for his purpose, and became bewildered among the rest, for the
Commander of the Coast-defence was not a man of order. He never knew
where to put a thing, nor even where it might have put itself, but found
a casual home for any paper that deserved it. This lack of method has
one compensation, like other human defects, to wit, that it puzzles a
clandestine searcher more deeply than cypher or cryptogram. Carne had
the Admiral's desk as wide as an oyster thrown back on his valve, and
just being undertucked with the knife, to make him go down easily. Yet
so great was the power of disorder that nothing could be made out of
anything. "Watch at the door," he had said to Dolly; and this suited her
intention.

For while he was thus absorbed, with his back towards her, she opened
the door a little, and presently saw the trusty Charles come hurrying
by, as if England hung upon his labours. "Tell my father to come here
this moment; go softly, and say that I sent you." As she finished her
whisper she closed the door, without any sound, and stood patiently.

"Show me where it is; come and find it for me. Everything here is in
the vilest mess," cried Carne, growing reckless with wrath and hurry.
"I want the despatch of this morning, and I find tailors' bills, way to
make water-proof blacking, a list of old women, and a stump of old pipe!
Come here, this instant, and show me where it is."

"If you forget your good manners," answered Dolly, still keeping in the
dark near the door, "I shall have to leave you. Surely you have practice
enough in spying, to find what you want, with two candles."

Carne turned for a moment, and stared at her. Her attitude surprised
him, but he could not believe in her courage to rebel. She stood with
her back to the door, and met his gaze without a sign of fear.

"There are no official papers here," he said, after another short
ransack; "there must have been some, if this desk is the one. Have you
dared to delude me by showing the wrong desk?"

Dolly met his gaze still, and then walked towards him. The band had
struck up, and the company were singing with a fine patriotic roar,
which rang very nobly in the distance