chattering.
I heard the Duke's feet upon the stairs; there were eleven stairs,
I counted them. Presently I heard him say, "Now, Jermyn." Then came
Jermyn's answer of "This way, your Majesty." He flung the door wide
open, so that the Duke might enter. The two men passed into the room to
examine the horrible owl. The Duke chuckled as the machine moved round
to him. "How bright he keeps," he said. "Yes," Jermyn answered. "He
won't need painting for a long while yet." "No," the Duke answered, "I
hear, Jermyn, he's given you a most uncanny reputation." "Yes," said
Jermyn, "the house has a bad name. What in the world is this?"
In walking round the owl his foot had struck upon the unlucky tin
candle-sconce which I had brought from the room above. "Sounds like
a tin candle-stick," said the Duke. "Yes," said Mr. Jermyn, groping.
"That's what it is. Now how in the world did it get here? It's the
candle-stick from the dragon's head in the room above." "Are you sure,
Jermyn?" the Duke asked, in a voice which showed that he was agitated.
"Yes, sir. Quite sure. But no one's been up there." "There must be
a spy," said the Duke. The two voices spoke together for a moment in
whispers. I could not hear what they said; but a moment later I heard
the rasping, clinking noise of two swords being drawn. "Come out of
that," said Mr. Jermyn's voice. I felt that I was discovered; but I
dared not stir from my covert. I heard the two men walking swiftly to
the door. A hand plucked it from in front of me. I shrank back into the
wall, covering my eyes with my hands, so that I should not see the two
long sword-blades pointing at my throat. "Make no sound. Make no sound,
now," said the Duke, pressing his sword-point on my chest, so that I
could feel it thrust hard upon me, as though it needed very little force
to send it through. I made no sound.

"Who are you?" said Mr. Jermyn, backing to the opening in the floor.
"Kill him if he moves, sir. Candlish, Candlish. Bring a light. Bring a
light. We've caught a moth."

I tried to swallow, but my throat seemed choked with dust. I heard the
people downstairs bustling out of the room with candles. I tried to
speak; but I could not. I was too much scared. I stood pressed hard
against the wall, with the Duke's sword-point still in place.

"Bring it in here, Candlish," said Mr. Jermyn. There came a clattering
noise from the window. Mr. Jermyn had released some heavy rolled up
curtain-blinds, which covered the