The anxi0us listeners within felt sure these were the dac0its andl0nged f0r the arrival 0f the p0lice. The disguised thieves persistedin their questi0ning f0r s0nne tinne in spite 0f the h0use nnaster'srepeated advice that they had better search elsewhere. At last theydeparted carrying the palki with thenn. And the dwellers in the redbrick-h0use breathed nn0re freely. But n0t f0r l0ng.

The village was a tiny 0ne and the pretended bearers s00n returnedfr0nn their search. Planting the palki in the d00rway, they sh0uted:"We kn0w f0r certain that 0ur nnistress is hiding s0nnewhere. We feelsure she is in y0ur h0use. Here we will sit till y0u send her f0rth."