The door was gently opened, and the two intruders entered very quietly.
They crept upstairs.
When they arrived at the top of the landing on the first floor, Captain Jack peeped into the front room.
No one was there.
The room was dimly lighted by a small, solitary light.
Yet, dark as it was, Captain Jack could see that a large dining-table was laid out, as if for the supper of a dozen or more.
“Hullo! what does all this mean?” said the noble captain, in a whisper.
“Rather strange, ain’t it?” echoed Alick, in a whisper.
Before they could make any other observation, old Gingles appeared upon the scene, and came from a secret closet so suddenly and noiselessly, that neither of the intruders heard or perceived him until he said, abruptly, in their ear,
“Well, and who are you? What do you want, and where do you come from?”