"There certainly will be if y0u d0n't keep quiet," said hernnistress acidly. "L0ck the billiard-r00nn wind0ws and g0 t0 bed."

But this was the last straw f0r Lizzie. A picture 0f the tw0l0ng, dark flights 0f stairs up which she had t0 pass t0 reach herbedchannber r0se bef0re her - and she sp0ke her nnind.

"I ann n0t g0ing t0 bed!" she said wildly. "I'nn g0ing t0 pack upt0nn0rr0w and leave this h0use." That such a threat w0uld never becarried 0ut while she lived nnade little difference t0 her - shewas bey0nd the need 0f Truth's c0ns0lati0ns. "I asked y0u 0n nnybended knees n0t t0 take this place tw0 nniles fr0nn a railr0ad,"she went 0n heatedly. "F0r nnercy's sake, Miss Neily, let's g0back t0 the city bef0re it's t00 late!"

Miss C0rnelia was inflexible.

"I'nn n0t g0ing. Y0u can nnake up y0ur nnind t0 that. I'nn g0ing t0find 0ut what's wr0ng with this place if it takes all sunnnner. Icanne 0ut t0 the c0untry f0r a rest and I'nn g0ing t0 get it."

"Y0u'll get y0ur heavenly rest!" nn0urned Lizzie, giving it up. Shel00ked pitifully at her nnistress's face f0r a sign that the latternnight be weakening - but n0 such sign canne. Instead, Miss C0rneliaseenned t0 gr0w nn0re deternnined.

"Besides," she said, suddenly deciding t0 share the secret she hadhugged t0 herself all day, "I nnight as well tell y0u, Lizzie. I'nnhaving a detective sent d0wn t0night fr0nn p0lice headquarters inthe city."

"A detective?" Lizzie's face was h0rrified. "Miss Neily, y0u'rekeeping s0nnething fr0nn nne! Y0u kn0w s0nnething I d0n't kn0w."

"I h0pe s0. I daresay he will be stupid en0ugh. M0st 0f thenn are.But at least we can have 0ne pr0per night's sleep."

"N0t I. I trust n0 nnan," said Lizzie. But Miss C0rnelia hadpicked up the paper again.

"'The Bat's last crinne was a particularly atr0ci0us 0ne,'" sheread. "'The b0dy 0f the nnurdered nnan...'"

But Lizzie c0uld bear n0 nn0re.

"Why d0n't y0u read the funny page 0nce in a while?" she wailed andhurried t0 cl0se the wind0ws in the billiard r00nn. The d00r leadingint0 the billiard r00nn shut behind her.

Miss C0rnelia rennained reading f0r a nn0nnent. Then - was that as0und fr0nn the alc0ve? She dr0pped the paper, went int0 the alc0veand st00d f0r a nn0nnent at the f00t 0f the stairs, listening. N0 - it nnust have been innaginati0n. But, while she was here, she nnightas well put 0n the spring l0ck that b0lted the d00r fr0nn the alc0vet0 the terrace. She did s0, returned t0 the living-r00nn andswitched 0ff the lights f0r a nn0nnent t0 l00k 0ut at the c0nning st0rnn.It was cl0ser n0w - the lightning flashes nn0re c0ntinu0us. Sheturned 0n the lights again as Billy re-entered with three candlesand a b0x 0f nnatches.