“I’ll tell what I’ve seen. You’re only a cheap trickster! Furthermore, you can’t keep me a prisoner in this room.”
“No?” Father Benedict’s voice crackled with amusement. “In this house I am the law! Since you are in no mood to discuss matters reasonably, I shall leave you here. Your grandmother, I trust, will display a more sensible attitude.”
“You leave my grandmother alone!” the imprisoned girl cried furiously. “You’re only after her gems!”
“If you were to cooperate—”
“I’ll never fall in with your schemes!” the girl exclaimed. “Let me out of here!”
Penny heard a scuffle and knew that an unsuccessful attempt had been made to reach the door. As her own hand groped along the closet wall, it suddenly encountered a small, circular panel of wood. As she pushed against it, a crack of light showed through.
“A peephole!” Penny thought. “Julia knew it was here! That was what she meant when she said I could see and listen!”
Stealthily, so as to make no sound, she slid the piece of wood aside.
Gazing into the semi-dark bedroom, she saw Father Benedict push the struggling girl backwards onto the canopied bed.
“You have settled your own fate!” he said angrily. “Now you’ll stay here until I find a better place! Sweet dreams, my little wildcat!”