progressed for an hour or so in silence, until about
one o'clock there appeared on the side of a distant hill a twinkling
light. I knew it at once. It had guided me home often and often before
now, and it was doing so again. But in what strange company!

"`That's Culverton, on the hill there,' said I.

"The men, who were nearly dead beat with their tramp through the deep
snow, said nothing, but plodded on doggedly. It was nearly an hour more
before we reached the outskirts of the estate, and by this time so
exhausted were they that when I cried a halt they fairly sat down in the
snow.

"I was strongly tempted to leave them there; but a desire to bring them
to condign punishment prevented me. They were armed, and I was not.
Besides, the reference in the letter to my father's steward made me
anxious to sift the matter to the bottom.

"`Come, come,' said I, `at that rate you'll never see the strong box.
Get up, men!'

"They struggled to their feet. Had they been anything but the villains
they were I could have pitied them, they looked so miserable.

"`Hold my horse,' said I, dismounting, `while I go and reconnoitre. I
know every inch of the ground. Keep in the dark, whatever you do, under
the hedge there. So. Are you loaded?'

"`I am,' said Tom, sullenly taking out his pistol.

"`So am I,' said the other.

"`Give me one of the pistols,' I said, as coolly as I could. `You won't
want both here, and I may want one.'

"Tom handed me his.

"`Now keep a look-out here, and when you hear me whistle over the wall,
come sharp, mind!'

"So saying, I left them, and went on towards the house.

"Except in my father's room no lights were burning, and I began to hope
that what the letter had said about the steward might after all prove to
be false. I went quietly up to the back door and turned the handle. It
was open. The story was true, then, and in my rage and indignation I
could hardly contain myself to act my part any longer. However, I made
a desperate effort.

"Holding the door slightly open I whistled softly. There was no answer.
I whistled again louder. This time there was a sound of some one
moving, and the faint nicker of a candle, and presently I heard a voice
whisper--

"`Is it all right?'

"`All right,' I whispered back. `And you, steward?'

"`Yes. All ready. Come in.'

"I entered. My hat was over my eyes, and in the faint candle-light the
false servant did not know me. I followed