"Well," I said, "I can tell you something more about that man. He is
patrolling the road at the back at this very moment."

Tiel looked grave enough now.

"It looks as if the house were being watched," he said rather slowly.

"Looks? It _is_ being watched!"

He thought for a moment.

"Evidently they only suspect so far. They can know nothing, or they
wouldn't be content with merely watching. Thank you for telling me.
We'll talk about it later."

Still cool as a cucumber he re-entered his room, and I returned to my
own.

What can be done? Nothing! I can only sit and wait and keep myself
from worrying by writing. I have made up my fire and my door is
locked, so that this manuscript will be in flames before any one can
enter, if it comes to the worst. Recalling the words of Tiel a few
days ago, I shiver a little to think of what is ahead. Suspicion has
_begun_!

IV.

FRIDAY.

This is written under very different circumstances--and in a different
place. My last words were written with my eyes shut; these are written
with them open, but I shall simply tell what happened as calmly as I
can. Let the events speak; I shall make no comment in the meanwhile.

On that Friday morning our breakfast was converted into a council of
war. We all three discussed the situation gravely and frankly. I felt
tempted to say some very bitter words to Tiel, for it seemed to me
quite obvious that it was simply his gross mismanagement which had
brought us to the edge of this precipice; but I am glad now I
refrained. I was at no pains, however, to be over-polite.

"There is nothing to be done in the meanwhile, I'm afraid," said he.

This coolness seemed to me all very well in its proper season, but not
at present.

"Yes, there is," I said urgently. "We might get out of this house and
look for some other refuge!"

He shook his head.

"Not by daylight, if it is being watched."

"Besides," said Eileen, "this is the day we have been waiting for. We
don't want to be far away, do we?"

"Personally," I said, "it seems to me that as I cannot be where I ought
to be" (and here I looked at Tiel somewhat bitterly), "with my brave
comrades in their attack on our enemies, I should much prefer to make
for a safer place than this--if one can be found."

"It can't," said Tiel briefly.

And that indeed became more and more obvious the longer we talked it
over. Had our house stood in the midst of a wood, or had a k