The footsteps on the floor told him that other inmates were there besides himself. He knew also that they were of the softer sex.
He breathed as softly as possible and durst not move.
The words which fell from the lips of the newcomers he heard most distinctly.
A horrible thought crossed his mind. It was this—
Suppose the articles he had purloined were missed, a search would be made, and the doors of the press would be broken open without ceremony.
He felt half inclined to unlock the door and make a rush for it, but then the fact that there were some dozen persons or more on the grass plot warned him of the danger attendant upon such a course.
No, he would patiently await the issue.
The two personages who had entered the bedroom were the mistress of the house and her maid. He very soon became aware of this from the conversation which was being carried on.
The lady sat herself down before the looking-glass, and the maid began to dress her hair.
She was about to make an elaborate toilette before sitting down to dinner. Through the keyhole of the door of his prison-house Peace commanded a view of both females, and was, therefore, able to appreciate to its full extent the elaborate performance that was going on. He inwardly cursed the absurd customs of ladies adorning themselves before presenting themselves in the banquetting room.