It went down with a crash appallingly loud in that silent house and at that hour; and taking advantage of his instant of consternation she jerked free and sprang toward the door. He was upon her in an instant, however, hard fingers digging into her shoulders. "You little fool!"
"No!" she cried. "No, no, no! Let me go, you—you brute!——"
Abruptly he thought better of his methods and released her, merely putting himself between her and the doorway.
"Don't be a little fool," he counseled. "You kick up that row and you'll have us both pinched inside of the next five minutes."
Defiance was on her tongue's tip, but the truth in his words gave her pause. Palpitating with the shock, every outraged instinct a-quiver, she subdued herself and fell back, eying him fixedly.
"They're here," he nodded thoughtfully. "You wouldn't have stood for that if they weren't. And since they are, I can find them without your assistance. Sit down. I shan't touch you again."
She had scant choice other than to obey. Desperate as she was, her strength had been severely overtaxed, and she might not presume upon it too greatly. Fascinated with terror, she let herself down into an easy chair.
Anisty thought for a moment, then went over to the desk and sat himself before it.
"Keys," he commented, rapidly inventorying what he saw. "How'd you get hold of them?"
"They are Mr. Maitland's. He must have forgotten them."