He entered the house.
All was unearthly quiet.
“I will not disturb any one,” thought the prodigal son, “but creep into the parlour, and sleep on the sofa until morning.”
This he did on tiptoe, for fear of being heard, and was soon fast asleep.
In less than half-an-hour Betty returned, and with her two village constables.
They went upstairs to the farmer’s bed-room, conducted by old Betty.
She knocked at her master’s bed-room door three times.
There was no answer.
No light was burning.
She opened the door, and peeped in.