Guided by it along the upper passageway, he passed the open doors of several bedrooms, card rooms, private dining-rooms, all empty and the furniture covered with sheets, until he came to a closed door.
Behind it, the heavy voice of Wildresse sounded menacingly; he waited until it rose to a roar, then tried the door under cover of the noise within. It was locked, and he stood close to it, listening, striving to think out the best way.
Behind the locked door Wildresse was shouting now, and Warner heard every word:
"By God!" he roared in English. "You had better not try to lie to me! Do you want your neck twisted?"
There was no reply.
"I ask you again, what did you do with that paper I gave you by mistake?" he repeated.
Suddenly Warner's heart stood still, as Philippa's voice came to him, low but distinct:
"I burned it!"
"You burned it? You lie!"
"I never lie," came the subdued voice. "I burned it."