COLONEL JEFF."]

"Not yet. We're going through the house."

"Upstairs?" added Colonel Jeff, inquiringly, briefly glancing at
Barbara, and indicating the staircase at the end of the long hall.

"Are merely three sleeping-rooms," she replied--"my brother's, my own,
and our guest-room."

"I perceive that anyone might gain access to your upper rooms by the
roof of the lean-to or by the balcony," observed the leader. "By your
leave, madam, we will go up and look round. It will be to your advantage
also to be assured that there is no one lurking about."

Barbara's heart sank, but she saw it would be fatal to offer any
objection. "Certainly," she said, and led the way towards the staircase.
The gentleman from Eden City, to whom all the Thornes were known,
although not intimately, here put in a suggestion that perhaps it would
be more agreeable to the lady's feelings if they were to depute one, or
say two gentlemen, to accompany her upstairs. The suggestion was
accepted; two searchers were by unanimous vote regarded as sufficient;
and Colonel Jeff and his friend were deputed to go up with Miss Thorne
and examine the bedrooms.

Barbara was cold and sick with terror, but she kept her self-possession,
and tried to cling to one frail straw of hope--that they might by some
providential chance overlook the door of the cupboard (which was papered
like the walls of the room) and pass it by. She trembled lest Oliver,
hearing the tramp of his enemies' steps approaching, should attempt to
make his escape by the windows, in which case he would fall straight
into the hands of the detachment who were surrounding the house and
searching the grounds. Yet--if they should detect and open the cupboard,
and she should see him caught like a rat in a trap, dragged out to his
death! There was no time for thought; the moment was imminent; in
another minute the die of Oliver Desmond's fate would be cast for life
or death. Yet a moment to breathe was hers. She turned to Mr. Thorne's
room first.

"Allow me," said Colonel Jeff, taking the candle from her hand as she
threw open the door and drew back. He stepped in past her and held up
the light. His eagle eye swept the room--searched every corner; he saw
there was no hiding-place there. His comrade stood back respectfully on
the threshold, apparently considerate of the lady's feelings, deeming it
sufficient for one to enter the room, and regarding Colonel Jeff as
competent to conduct the search a