Barefooted Nicolas sprang forward, bowing, then swinging open the door.

He bowed again as the young engineers stepped inside.

Then Nicolas pulled the door shut.
"Are you going to stay, Tom, and have any further talk with this thief ?" sputtered Harry, who had held in about as long as was safe for him.
"What do you think ?" Tom asked, grimly, as he knelt upon his trunk and tugged at the strap.
"I reckon I think about the same as you do," rejoined Hazelton, closing his own trunk and strapping it.
"One--two _hoist_!" ordered Reade, settling his own trunk upon his shoulder.
Harry followed suit.

In Indian file they moved across the room.
"Nicolas," called Tom, "be good enough--the door!" The barefooted servant swung the barrier open.
"Thank you," said Tom, marching out.

Then he dumped the trunk, noiselessly, to the floor.