er pocket, she found that the joint was too close even
to allow this to be inserted for any distance. There was no keyhole or
any other visible means of opening it, and she searched the walls in
vain for any hidden spring.

For a whole week she continued the search, but without the slightest
success, and at last began almost to despair; for at the end of that
time she was convinced that she had passed her fingers again and again
over every square inch of the floor and walls within her reach.
Completely worn out with her sleepless nights, she determined to take
a little rest, and to abstain altogether for a few nights from the
search. On the third night, however, an idea suddenly occurred to her.
She rose at once, dressed herself, and was about to go downstairs,
when she thought that she heard a noise below. She returned at once to
her room, hid away her hat and coat, and again went to the top of the
stairs and listened.

Yes, she had not been mistaken; she distinctly heard sounds below,
and, she thought, the murmur of men's voices. After a moment's thought
she returned again to her room, took off her dress and threw a shawl
round her shoulders, and then stole quietly down the stairs to the
next floor and knocked gently at Miss Penfold's door. She repeated the
knock two or three times, and then heard Miss Penfold's voice asking
who was there. She did not speak, but knocked again. This time the
voice came from the other side of the door.

"It is me, Miss Penfold--Anna Sibthorpe."

The door was unlocked and opened.

"What is it, Anna?"

"There is some one in the house, ma'am; I can hear them moving about
down below, and I think I can hear men's voices."

Miss Penfold came out and listened.

"Yes, there is some one there," she said. "Go and call the butler and
the others. I shall be ready by the time you come down."

In two or three minutes the servants, headed by the butler, who had
armed himself with a blunderbuss that always hung in his room ready
for action, came downstairs. Miss Penfold came out to meet them
half-dressed. She had a pistol in her hand. The maids had armed
themselves with pokers and brooms.

"Have you looked to the priming of your blunderbuss?" Miss Penfold
asked quietly.

"No, ma'am."

"Well, then, look now," she said sharply. "What's the use of having a
weapon if you don't see that it's in order?"

"It's all right, ma'am," the butler said, examining the priming.

"Well, then, come al