.."
HENRY HILL (my father's servant): "How often I've told you, miss,
that, as long as Master Edward loses his latch-keys, there is
nothing to be done and something is bound to happen! One day he
will not only lose the latch-key, but his life."
INSPECTOR: "I'm sorry to have frightened you, madam, I will now
take down your names ..."
MARGOT (anxiously): "Oh, I see, you have to report it in the
police news, have you? Has the cabman given you his name? He ought
to be rewarded, he might have saved us all!"
I felt that I could have strangled the cabman, but, collecting
myself, took one candle off the writing-table and, blowing the
other out, led the way to the library-door, saying slowly:
"Margaret... Emma... Alice Tennant. Do I have to add my
occupation?"
INSPECTOR (busily writing in a small note-book): "No, thank you."
(Turning to Hill) "Your name, please."
My father's servant was thoroughly roused and I regretted my kick
when in a voice of thunder he said:
"Henry Hastings Appleby Hill."
I felt quite sure that my father would appear over the top of the
stair and then all would be over; but, by the fortune that follows
the brave, perfect silence reigned throughout the house. I walked
slowly away, while Hill led the three policemen into the hall.
When the front door had been barred and bolted, I ran down the
back stairs and said, smiling brightly:
"I shall tell my father all about this! You did very well; good
night, Hill.
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