“Had the Count of Hentzau been?”
“Not to our knowledge, sir. But we were all tired and slept very soundly.”
“Now did we?” said the constable, with a grim smile.
“In fact, sir, we were all overcome with fatigue—Mr. Rassendyll like the rest—and full morning found us still in our beds. There we should be to this moment, sir, had we not been suddenly aroused in a startling and fearful manner.”
“You should write story books, James. Now what was this fearful manner in which we were aroused?”
James laid down his pipe, and, resting his hands on his knees, continued his story.
“This lodge, sir, this wooden lodge—for the lodge is all of wood, sir, without and within.”
“This lodge is undoubtedly of wood, James, and, as you say, both inside and out.”
“And since it is, sir, it would be mighty careless to leave a candle burning where the oil and firewood are stored.”
“Most criminal!”