But when the noise he made died away, all remained silent in the house.
“What the deuce is the meaning of this, I should like to know?” he inquired of himself, as he went down the steps and climbed up to the sill of the front windows, and looked into the drawing-room.
The room was brilliantly lighted up, but the fire in the grate had burned low; the untasted supper covered up on the hearth had probably grown cold; and the little guardian angel of the place was no where to be seen.
“Where the mischief can she be?” he asked himself; and having frequently expressed annoyance that she should sit up late to let him in, he now felt vexation that she should have gone to rest, and left him to get in as he could.
There was nothing now for him to do but to go back to the stable and rouse up his man-servant, and get the key of the kitchen door, by which that functionary always let himself in in the morning to make the fires.
Leo slept in the loft over the carriage-room, which was shut off from the horse stalls, and locked within.
And it required considerable knocking and calling before the man could be awakened.
When at last he aroused he started up in terror shouting;
“Who’s there? Thieves! murder! fire!—go away, or I’ll shoot!”
“Coward, and fool!—come down and open the door!” loudly and angrily exclaimed his master.