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there's no one else in the house？ How many servants have you？〃
〃None；〃 she answered。 〃There's a woman comes every day； but she
doesn't sleep here。〃
〃Do you live all alone here with your mother？〃 he asked； watching
her keenly。
〃There's my stepfather；〃 she answered。 〃But he's not here tonight。〃
〃Oh； is he away？〃 Dunn asked； his expression almost one of
disappointment。
The girl； whose first extreme fear had passed and who was watching
him as keenly as he watched her； noticed this manner of
disappointment； and could not help wondering what sort of burglar
it was who was not pleased to hear that the man of the house was
away； and that he had only two women to deal with。
And it appeared to her that he seemed not only disappointed； but
rather at a loss what to do next。
As in truth he was； for that the stepfather should be away； and this
girl and her mother all alone； was； perhaps； the one possibility that
he had never considered。
She noticed； too； that he did not pay any attention to her jewellery；
which was lying close to his hand on the toilet…table； and though in
point of actual fact this jewellery was not of any great value； it
was exceedingly precious in her eyes； and she did not understand a
burglar who showed no eagerness to seize on it。
〃Did you want to see Mr。 Dawson？〃 she asked； her voice more
confident now and even with a questioning note in it。
〃Mr。 Dawson！ Who's he？〃 Dunn asked； disconcerted by the question；
but not wishing to seem so。
〃My stepfather； Mr。 Deede Dawson；〃 she answered。 〃I think you knew
that。 If you want him； he went to London early today； but I think
it's quite likely he may come back tonight。〃
〃What should I want him for？〃 growled Dunn； more and more；
disconcerted； as he saw that he was not playing his part too well。
〃I don't know；〃 she answered。 〃I suppose you do。〃
〃You suppose a lot；〃 he retorted roughly。 〃Now you listen to me。
I don't want to hurt you； but I don't mean to be interfered with。
I'm going over the house to see what I can find that's worth
taking。 Understand？〃
〃Oh； perfectly；〃 she said。
She was watching him closely； and she noticed that he still made no
attempt to take possession of her jewellery； though it lay at his
hand； and that puzzled her very much； indeed； for she supposed the
very first thing a burglar did was always to seize such treasures
as these of hers。 But this man paid them no attention whatever； and
did not even notice them。
He was feeling in his pockets now and he took out the revolver and
the coil of thin rope he had secured from the burglar。
〃Now； do you know what I'm going to do？〃 he asked； with an air of
roughness and brutality that was a little overdone。 He put the
revolver and the rope down on the bed； the revolver quite close to
her。
〃I'm going；〃 he continued； 〃to tie you up to one of those chairs。
I can't risk your playing any tricks or giving an alarm； perhaps；
while I'm searching the house。 I shall take what's worth having；
and then I shall clear off； and if your stepfather's coming home
tonight you won't have to wait long till he releases you； and if he
don't come I can't help it。〃
He turned his back to her as he spoke and took hold of one of the
chairs in the room； and then of another and looked at them as though
carefully considering which would be the best to use for the
carrying out of his threat。
He appeared to find it difficult to decide； for he kept his back
turned to her for two or three minutes； during all of which time the
revolver lay on the bed quite close to her hand。
He listened intently for he fully expected her to snatch it up； and
he wished to be ready to turn before she could actually fire。 But；
indeed； nothing was further from her thoughts； for she did not know
in the least how to use the weapon or even how to fire it off； and
the very thought of employing it to kill any one would have terrified
her far more even than had done her experiences of this night。
So the pistol lay untouched by her side； while； very pale and
trembling a little； she waited what he would do； and on his side he
felt as much puzzled by her failure to use the opportunity he had put
in her way as she was puzzled by his neglect to seize her jewellery
lying ready to his hand。
He was still hesitating； still appearing unable to decide which chair
to employ in carrying out his proclaimed purpose of fastening her up
when she asked a question that made him swing round upon her very
quickly and with a very startled look。
〃Are you a real burglar？〃 she said。
CHAPTER VI
A DISCOVERY
〃What do you mean？〃 Dunn asked quickly。 The matted growth of hair
on his face served well to hide any change of expression； but his
eyes betrayed him with their look of surprise and discomfiture； and
in her own clear and steady glance appeared now a kind of puzzled
mockery as if she understood well that all he did was done for some
purpose； though what that purpose was still perplexed her。
〃I mean；〃 she said slowly； 〃well … what do I mean？ I am only asking
a question。 Are you a burglar … or have you come here for some
other reason？〃
〃I don't know what you're getting at；〃 he grumbled。 〃Think I'm here
for fun？ Not me。 Come and sit on this chair and put your hands
behind you and don't make a noise； or scream； or anything； not if
you value your life。〃
〃I don't know that I do very much；〃 she answered with a manner of
extreme bitterness； but more as if speaking to herself than to him。
She did as he ordered； and he proceeded to tie her wrists together
and to fasten them to the back of the chair on which she had seated
herself。 He was careful not to draw the cords too tight； but at the
same time he made the fastening secure。
〃You won't disturb mother； will you？〃 she asked quietly when he had
finished。 〃Her room's the one at the end of the passage。〃
〃I don't want to disturb any one；〃 he answered。 〃I only want to get
off quietly。 I won't gag you； but don't you try to make any noise；
if you do I'll come back。 Understand？〃
〃Oh； perfectly；〃 she answered。 〃May I ask one question？ Do you
feel very proud of yourself just now？〃
He did not answer； but went out of the room quickly； and he had an
impression that she smiled as she watched him go； and that her smile
was bitter and a little contemptuous。
〃What a girl；〃 he muttered。 〃She scored every time。 I didn't find
out a thing； she didn't do anything I expected or wanted her to。
She seemed as if she spotted me right off … I wonder if she did？ I
wonder if she could be trusted？〃
But then he thought of that photograph on the mantelpiece and his look
grew stern and hard again。 He was careful to avoid the room the girl
had indicated as occupied by her mother； but of all the others on that
floor he made a hasty search without discovering anything to interest
him or anything of the least importance or at all unusual。
》From the wide landing in the centre of the house a narrow stairway；
hidden away behind an angle of the wall so that one did not notice it
at first； led above to three large attics with steeply…sloping roofs
and evidently designed more for s