'“Barley, it's likely?” cried Nick; “it is a fine dry loft.”
'“No,” said Bob, “it is empty.”
'And with that he endeavoured to turn them away and get them back into the house; but old Basset turned back, and fixing his eye upon the door, shook his head for a couple of minutes.
'“Well,” said he, “for an empty loft it has the finest pair of padlocks I ever looked at. Would there be any objection, Major, to our taking a peep into it?”
'“None,” said Bob; “but I haven't a ladder that long in the place.”
'“I think this might reach,” said Hennessy, as he touched one with his foot that lay close along the wall, partly covered with straw.
'“Just the thing,” said Nick; while poor Bob hung down his head and said nothing. With that they raised the ladder and placed it against the door.
'“Might I trouble you for the key, Major Mahon?” said Hennessy.
'“I believe it is mislaid,” said Bob, in a kind of sulky way, at which they both grinned at each other, as much as to say, “We have him now.”
'“You ''ll not take it amiss then, Major, if we break the door?” said Nick.