ain't it, sir? But as it happens
you'll have to go elsewhere to see my master and the new mistress. I
don't know where they are--it ain't likely I should--but I _do_
know they aren't in _this_ house, where there isn't a solitary soul
but me. As for the time of night, that's neither here nor there, so long
as I'd chosen to go to bed; and I can't dress all of a minute to please
anybody that likes to come banging at the door. You deserve to be had up
for damaging the house, that you do, whoever you may be."

There was a ring of virtuous indignation in the voice, and for a few
seconds' length I hesitated. Perhaps, after all, the fellow was telling
the truth. I was very certain of his capacity for lying, but it might
well be that Wildred and Karine had not really come here. Still----

Far away a door slammed sharply, and just in time to decide me. The man
_had_ lied. He had just told me that he was alone in the house, and
this one sound had unmistakably proved the falsehood. It was not the
sort of noise with which the wind shuts a door, even had the wind been
violent enough to do so, and windows open to admit it. The latch had
been lifted by a human hand.

The servant, who was entirely out of my sight, began talking hurriedly,
jabbering any nonsense, as though to cover what had happened. I listened
intently, and through his chattering I fancied that I could
hear--subdued with distance and intervening walls--the sound of a
woman's crying.

My heart seemed to leap into my throat. I could feel the blood throbbing
almost to bursting at my temples.

"You liar!" I roughly exclaimed. "They _are_ here, and I will see
them, if I have to break the door down!"

"Try it, then!" the man cried, tauntingly. "Just try it--and you may try
all night. Ta, ta! Good-bye, and good luck to you!"

I heard his feet tapping swiftly along the uncovered floor as he ran
away. Another door was opened and closed, and he was out of earshot.

Desperately I again endeavoured to find the lock. It was no use. Thrust
in my arm as far as I might I could not touch it, and though I broke the
narrow pane on the other side as well, the fastenings of the door were
beyond my reach.

With all my strength I flung myself against the door, but the heavy wood
stood firm as though it had been a sheet of iron. There was evidently no
hope in that direction, and dizzy with my own rage and desperation, I
began attempting some of the windows. But all were secured with