She half arose in her chair. But almost instantly she recovered her self-possession, though the wide-open eyes told plainly of the excitement that her words had betrayed.
“I—I had not heard of it,” she said, trying to smile. “It sounds interesting; pray tell me about it.”
“It’s no great story. Anna was frightened when she met me on the stairs leading to the second floor; she said some things that meant nothing, but her manner caused me to suspect much. Later I was convinced that I was right, by her stealing downstairs to assure herself that I was gone.”
“What did you suspect?”
“That there was another design upon the safe beside my own—that she had someone concealed in the house who was to help her.”
“No, no, that can’t be true. Anna knows nothing of the packet.”
He looked at her in surprise.
“Then you and she were not partners, so to speak; you knew nothing of her movements?”
“I don’t understand.”
“I was so impressed with the notion that she was about to attempt some secret design, that when you caught the glimmer of my torch in the dark hall and came to the office door, I felt sure that it was she.”