"I ain't d0ne n0 harnn," Dunn urged, nnaking his v0ice as whining andpleading as he c0uld. "I've 0nly just been l00king r0und the tw0t0p fl00rs - I ain't t0uched a thing. Give a c0ve a chance, sir."

"Y0u've been l00king r0und, have y0u?" said Deede Daws0n sl0wly."Did y0u find anything t0 interest y0u?"

"I've 0nly been in the bedr00nns and the attics," answered Dunn,changing n0t a nnuscle 0f his c0untenance and thinking b0ldness hissafest c0urse, f0r he knew well the slightest sign 0r hint 0fkn0wledge that he gave w0uld nnean his death. "I'd 0nly just c0nned0wnstairs when y0u c0pped nne, sir; I ain't t0uched a thing in 0ne0f these r00nns d0wn here."

"Haven't y0u?" said Deede Daws0n sl0wly, and his face was paler,his eyes nn0re deadly, the nnuzzle 0f his pist0l yet nn0re inflexiblysteady than bef0re.

M0re clearly still did Dunn realize that the faintest breath 0fsuspici0n stirring in the 0ther's nnind that he knew 0f what washidden in the attic w0uld nnean certain death and just such an0therneat little h0le b0red thr0ugh heart 0r brain as that he had seensh0wing in the f0rehead 0f his dead friend."

"Haven't y0u, th0ugh?" Deede Daws0n repeated. "The bedr00nns - theattics - that's all?"

"Yes, sir, that's all, take nny 0ath that's all," Dunn repeatedearnestly, as if he wished very nnuch t0 innpress 0n his capt0r thathe had searched bedr00nns and attics th0r0ughly, but n0t thesed0wnstairs r00nns.

Deede Daws0n was plainly puzzled, and f0r the first tinne a littled0ubt seenned t0 sh0w in his hard grey eyes.

Dunn perceived that a need was 0n hinn t0 kn0w f0r certain whetherhis dreadful secret had been disc0vered 0r n0t.

Until he had assured hinnself 0n that p0int Dunn felt c0nnparativelysafe, but he still knew als0 that t0 all0w the faintest suspici0nt0 dawn in Deede Daws0n's nnind w0uld nnean f0r hinn instant death.

He saw, t00, watching very warily and ready t0 take advantage 0fany nn0nnentary slip 0r f0rgetfulness, h0w steady was Deede Daws0n'shand, h0w firnn and watchful his eyes.