"I walked," answered Dean demurely.
"Of course you did! How did you get out of the place where I put you?"
"I went out at the back door."
Kirby turned to Dan in alarm.
"Was it unlocked?" he asked, resuming his examination of the boy.
"Yes; if it hadn't been I couldn't have got out."
"Where is Pompey—the negro? What did you do to him?" asked Kirby suspiciously.
"He fell asleep after dinner."
"And I suppose you took the key from him in his sleep," said Kirby, rather as a statement than an inquiry.