“Oh, no, no,” he said, “do not weep; do not cry like that.”
“I cannot help it,” she said. “I loved my brother.”
“He loved you too, dearly.”
They were silent for some minutes, while Sard tried again to shift his bonds. When he spoke again he had good news.
“Miss Kingsborough,” he said, “I have to break this news to you. Your brother is not dead. He is alive. He has just crept into the room behind you.”
“Don’t make any noise,” Hilary said. “For heaven’s sake don’t make any noise. I’ve been knocked out. I’m dizzy and sick.”
He came up between them and sat down upon the floor.
“Oh, Hilary,” she said, “you are covered with blood.”
“Yes, I know, dear. O Lord, I do feel queer! They have all gone upstairs, the people here. Cheer up, Pearl, my darling, we’ll soon have you out of this. The only question is, how to open the padlocks.”
“Have you any keys?” Sard asked, “or anything like wire for a pick-lock?”