I stopped blowing, aghast at what I had done; but Peter caught the tube from my hand and recommenced the assault with fresh vigour, whispering through the keyhole, every now and then between the blasts, provoking, irritating, even insulting remarks on the old woman's personal appearance and supposed ways of living.

This threw her into paroxysms of rage and of coughing, both increasing in violence; and the war of words grew, she tugging at the door as she screamed, he answering merrily, and with pretended sympathy for her sufferings, until I lost all remaining delicacy in the humour of the wicked game, and laughed loud and heartily.
[Illustration] Of a sudden the scolding and coughing ceased.

A strange sound and again silence followed.

Then came a shrill, suppressed scream; and we heard the voice of a girl, crying: "Grannie! grannie! What's the matter with you?
Can't you speak to me, grannie?
They've smothered my grannie!" Sobs and moans were all we heard now.

Peter had taken fright at last, and was busy undoing the rope.