"Why not?"
"It's dreadful! Just as though you were my servant."
"Mr. Engelhardt, we must be everything to each other——"
She shot up her hand and ceased. The voices without were now distinguishable.
"To-night!" he muttered, bitterly, before heeding them.
Naomi, on the other hand, was at the last pitch of attention; but not to him. She inclined her head as she knelt to hear the better. The voices were approaching from one side.
"Ay, that's where he dropped—just there!" said one. It was Tigerskin's mate, Bill.
"Take the key from the door!" Engelhardt whispered to Naomi, who was the nearer it. They had forgotten to do this. For one wild moment the girl hesitated, then she cautiously reached out her hand and withdrew the key without a scratch.
"So this is the crib!" they heard Bo's'n say.
"The same old crib," said Bill. "Same as it was ten years ago, only plastered up a bit. I suppose it is locked, mate?"