It was a very uncomfortable situation for the young guests of the house party.

If only the burglar had not been a member of the Gray family! Then Tom Gray himself spoke.
"I must say this is a nice 'ospitable way to treat a guest and a relation.

'Ere I am taken by a lot of silly children for a burglar.

I, your own nephew, awnt, who 'ad come down stairs on the h'innocent h'errand of finding some h'ice water." Mrs.Gray looked from one to another of the silent group.

Her eyes took in the silver piled on the table, the pistol on the floor and the burglar's tools and lantern.
"You are a burglar," she said, "a wretched, common thief.