Page:The Mystery of Madeline Le Blanc (1900).djvu/76

76 noise, which would be to open but one door instead of all."

After this conversation, which was with mouth to ear, they separated.

One officer was placed before the house to watch the front and side, while the other four collected at the back door. One began at once to work quietly with a bunch of keys. All knew the dimensions of the house, upon which knowledge they had now to depend, for it was too dark to see much. Disguised as peasants or drovers, at one time or another during the day they had studied the house from a distance. Presently, the lock yielded to a key, and in their stocking-feet they entered. There was that dead silence that makes one nervous and feel that somebody is in hiding. They proceeded into the next room; while one remained, flashing his lantern about, but saw nothing save a coat, some old cooking utensils, and a low wooden bench on which lay a few dry crusts of bread. The next room was absolutely barren, and so the next. The officers were as noiseless as the night, and as cunning as any of their kind. After everything had been searched and