"Some boy of whom I know nothing—"
Nell interrupted impatiently, "He's a friend of Mr. Tellbridge's! Denis met him there."
"Why didn't you explain that before? Of course Mr. Tellbridge would have no one—Sheila, are you feeding that dog again?"
"Yes, Aunt Kezia."
"Then leave the room at once! You really are a most tiresome little girl!"
The Atom arose and walked from the room. It was her way of obtaining release when she considered a meal had lasted sufficiently long.
"I will not have late hours kept in my house," said Miss Kezia, with a final snap of her lips.
When ten o'clock came and went without bringing Denis, Nell began to grow anxious. Half-past ten was Miss Kezia's hour for going to bed. At twenty-eight minutes past ten she "locked up." She never varied the time by a minute, unless by special arrangement with Herr Schmidt.
Listening behind the door of the Stronghold, Nell heard her lock up as usual and retire to bed. She slipped out and down into the hall. From beneath Herr Schmidt's door there came a thin line of light.
She softly unbarred the chains and lifted down the burglar bell; then she stood listening for Denis's step. Suddenly Herr Schmidt's door opened. Nell, in the darkness of the hall, gazed expectantly at the big figure outlined against the light of the sitting room. She crept back and hid behind a coat hanging on the stand. The next moment hands fumbled against her throat.