Then he turned to Suzanne and said: "You had better go back to bed." "I daren't, I daren't!" "Then stay here and keep quiet.

Mind, not a sound!" "Give me a pistol." He unlocked the drawer again, and gave her what she asked.

Then signing to me to follow him, he opened the door, and we stepped together into the dark hall, the duke laying his hand on my arm and whispering: "They're after the necklace." We groped slowly, with careful noiselessness, across the hall to the foot of the great staircase.

There we paused and listened.

There was nothing to be heard.