“Haven’t you heard of that face being seen before?”
“Well,” said the housekeeper, rather taken aback, “I believe I have heard something about it.”
“And the doors, why do they lock of themselves?”
“Oh, that’s very simple,” answered the housekeeper quickly. “That’s a patent invented by the Captain for the greater security of the house when he didn’t live here himself. I will show you how to open them.”
She crossed to the door of the dining-room, followed by Freda. But it seemed to the girl that she listened a few moments, before attempting to open it. Then she turned what looked like a little ornamental button above the keyhole, and the door opened.
“That’s how it’s done; you see it’s perfectly simple.”
“Ye-es,” said Freda, “but it all seems to me very strange.”
Mrs. Bean laughed, and wanted the girl to amuse herself with a book while she cleared away the tea-things.
But no sooner was the housekeeper’s broad back turned than Freda was off her chair in a moment, and out of the kitchen to a door which opened into the court-yard. As this door had no secret bolt, she was speedily outside, under the gallery.
Fancying, that she heard voices to the left, Freda turned in that direction, and presently saw Crispin standing ankle-deep in the snow, looking up at the gallery above.