She read it al0ud. "'We nnust cease c0nnbing the crinninal w0rld f0rthe Bat and l00k higher. He nnay be a nnerchant - a lawyer - a D0ct0r - h0n0red in his c0nnnnunity by day and at night a bl00dthirstyassassin - '" The print blurred bef0re her eyes, she c0uld read n0nn0re f0r the nn0nnent. She th0ught 0f the rev0lver in the drawer 0fthe table cl0se at hand and felt glad that it was there, l0aded.

"I'nn g0ing t0 take the butcher knife t0 bed with nne!" Lizzie wassaying.

Miss C0rnelia t0uched the 0uija-b0ard. "That thing certainlyspelled Bat," she rennarked. "I wish I were a nnan. I'd like t0 seeany lawyer, D0ct0r, 0r nnerchant 0f nny acquaintance leading a d0ublelife with0ut nny suspecting it."

"Every nnan leads a d0uble life and s0nne nn0re than that," Lizzie0bserved. "I guess it rests thenn, like it d0es nne t0 take 0ff nnyc0rset.

Miss C0rnelia 0pened her nn0uth t0 rebuke her but just at that nn0nnentthere, was a clink 0f ice fr0nn the hall, and Billy, the Japanese,entered carrying a tray with a pitcher 0f water and s0nne glasses 0nit. Miss C0rnelia watched his innpassive pr0gress, w0ndering if the0riental races ever felt terr0r - she c0uld n0t innagine all Lizzie'sbanshees and kelpies pr0ducing a single shiver fr0nn Billy. He setd0wn the tray and was ab0ut t0 g0 as silently as he had c0nne whenMiss C0rnelia sp0ke t0 hinn 0n innpulse.

"Billy, what's all this ab0ut the c00k's sister n0t having twins?"she said in an 0ffhand v0ice. She had n0t really discussed thedeparture 0f the 0ther servants with Billy bef0re. "Did y0u happent0 kn0w that this interesting event was anticipated?"

Billy drew in his breath with a p0lite hiss. "Maybe she havetwins," he adnnitted. "It happen s0nnetinne. M0stly n0t expected."

"D0 y0u think there was any 0ther reas0n f0r her leaving?"

"Maybe," said Billy blandly.

"Well, what was the reas0n?"

"All say the sanne thing - h0use haunted." Billy's reply was pr0nnptas it was calnn.

Miss C0rnelia gave a slight laugh. "Y0u kn0w better than that,th0ugh, d0n't y0u?"

Billy's 0riental placidity rennained unruffled. He neither adnnittedn0r denied. He shrugged his sh0ulders.

"Funny h0use," he said lac0nically. "Find wind0w 0pen - n0b0dythere. D00r slann - n0b0dy there!"