THE BODY OF LE GAIRE Miles had stationed a sentry just inside the front door, but he was the only one of our men visible, nearly all of the others being at breakfast in the kitchen.

I felt no need of any help however, for Le Gaire was unarmed, and not of a nature to make serious resistance.

Besides, if I was mistaken as to his hiding place in the house I preferred making the discovery alone.

My exploration during the night had made me familiar with the arrangement of the front rooms, but not the extension to the rear.

I stopped, in the silence, at the head of the stairs, to glance about, and decide where I had better begin.