As naturally as he could Dion got between Jimmy and the opening on to the terrace, and, forestalling the boy, looked out. He saw nothing; he could not have said with truth that any definite sound reached his ears; but he felt that at that exact moment Mrs. Clarke escaped from the terrace, and began to glide down towards the house below.
“There’s nothing! Come and see for yourself,” he said casually.
Jimmy pushed by him, then stood perfectly still, staring at the darkness and listening intently.
“I don’t hear it now!” he acknowledged gruffly.
“What did you think you heard?”
“I did hear something. I couldn’t tell you what it was.”
“Have you looked all through the garden?”
“You know I haven’t. You heard me calling down at the bottom. You must have, because you answered me.”
“We’d better have a good look now. Just wait one minute while I put out the lamp. I’ll put away the book I was reading, too.”
“Right you are!” said the boy, still gruffly.