Page:Hornung - Irralies Bushranger.djvu/63

 "You are my last hope, Miss Villiers," said he, as the girl came up. "I've tried all the keys on the premises but yours. If you fail me"

"I shall fail you," said Irralie. "I keep nothing in the world under lock and key."

"Indeed! Then I am done."

"I am afraid you are."

The words were said in a way that attracted no third person's attention. Yet Fullarton winced as his eyes met Irralie's—winced, and then smiled. Next moment he was holding out his hand to one of her young brothers.

"That knife of yours," said he.

"To force the lock?"

Fullarton took the knife without replying, opened the big blade, got lazily to his feet, and as lazily reseated himself, cross-legged, on the veranda-boards, within reach of the brass and leather fastenings. The circle of inquisitive faces had closed in upon him when he paused to search it for the face of Irralie. All he saw was her black hair vanishing.