[CHAPTER VI.]
AN AMAZING DISCOVERY.
ON the wall to the right, as one entered Mr. Alan's room, hung a long, narrow picture which had a strange interest for the boys.
It was a life-size painting of a man in the dress of a Cavalier, with feathered hat and ample cloak, lace ruffles and pointed shoes. He was leaning forward with his finger on his lips as if enjoining silence. The boys were struck with the disagreeable expression of the countenance and the cunning leer in the eyes. Noel was uneasily conscious that the eyes followed him to whatever side of the room he retreated.
"I hate that picture," he said; "the man keeps staring at me as if he were alive."
"What does that matter when you know he is not?" said Duke. "Let him stare. I snap my fingers at him. I would turn him round with his face to the wall if the frame were not so large."
He laid his hand on the picture as he spoke and gave it a slight push.
Then an amazing thing happened.
The picture swung slowly back, revealing an opening. Gazing into it with startled eyes, the boys saw the beginning of a narrow flight of stairs leading downwards.
"Oh, look, Noel, look!" cried Duke. "A hidden staircase! Let us go down and see where it leads to."