“‘Give me one of the pistols,’ I said, as coolly as I could. ‘You won’t want both here, and I may want one.’
“Tom handed me his.
“‘Now keep a look-out here, and when you hear me whistle over the wall, come sharp, mind!’
“So saying, I left them, and went on towards the house.
“Except in my father’s room no lights were burning, and I began to hope that what the letter had said about the steward might after all prove to be false. I went quietly up to the back door and turned the handle. It was open. The story was true, then, and in my rage and indignation I could hardly contain myself to act my part any longer. However, I made a desperate effort.
“Holding the door slightly open I whistled softly. There was no answer. I whistled again louder. This time there was a sound of some one moving, and the faint nicker of a candle, and presently I heard a voice whisper—
“‘Is it all right?’
“‘All right,’ I whispered back. ‘And you, steward?’
“‘Yes. All ready. Come in.’
“I entered. My hat was over my eyes, and in the faint candle-light the false servant did not know me. I followed him to his room.