"Could Mrs. Penn have written two notes, think you, Anne?"
"I fear to think so: but it is not impossible. I only saw one in the basket; but I scarcely noticed in my hurry."
"If she did not write two, the mischief as yet is confined to the house, and I must take care that for this night at least it is not carried beyond it. After that——"
He concluded his sentence in too low a tone to be heard, and rang for Hickens. The man came immediately, and his master spoke.
"Hickens, will you lock the entrance doors of the house, back and front, and put the keys into your pocket. No one must pass out of it again to-night."
Hickens stared as if stupefied. It was the most extraordinary order ever given to him at Chandos. "Why, sir?" he cried. "Whatever for?"
"It is my pleasure, Hickens," replied Mr. Chandos, in his quiet tone of command. "Lock the doors and keep the keys; and suffer no person to go out on any pretence whatsoever. No person that the house contains, you understand, myself excepted. Neither Mrs. Chandos nor Mrs. Penn; Miss Hereford"—turning to me with a half smile—"or the servants. Should any one of them present themselves at the door, and, finding it fast, ask to be let out, say you have my orders not to do it."
"Very well, sir," replied the amazed Hickens. "There's two of the maids out on an errand now, sir; are they to be let in?"
"Certainly. But take care that you fasten the door afterwards again. Go at once and do this; and then send Lizzy Dene to me."
Away went Hickens. Mr. Chandos paced the room until Lizzy Dene appeared.