"Missy's room at de end," said the negro.
With beating heart I hurried along behind him, and we came to an open door. I knocked upon it, and entered. The room was dark, but the window was open, and the jalousies not having been closed it was possible to see that no one was there.
"Missy gone to bed," said Moses; "de bedroom is just dar."
He pointed to a closed door in the wall. Loath as I was to disturb Mistress Lucy, I was still more anxious that she should know of my presence; so I went to the door and rapped briskly upon it. There was no answer. I rapped again, more loudly, but still without result. She was either fast asleep or--and the thought struck me with a chill--she was no longer there.
"Where is Mr. Vetch's room ?" I asked, beset by a great anxiety.
"I show Massa," replied Uncle Moses.
He led me from the room, and along a passage that branched from the other. There was a thread of light beneath a door at the end.
"Dat is Massa Vetch's room," said the negro.
I went to it and tried the handle. The door was locked. I thumped upon it with my fist, and was answered with a curse.
"Settle your drunken quarrels yourselves," cried the well-remembered voice. "What is it to me if you break each other's skulls?"