They were disappearing down the passage that led to the kitchens and thence to the servants' rooms above, when Mrs. Penn came in with her bonnet on. She gazed after the strangers. "Those look just like police!" she whispered. "What have they come for?" "About these losses, I believe. Mr. Chandos has again lost something from his desk." "What! besides the first loss the other day?" "Yes, he feels very much annoyed: and it is enough to make him feel so." "I'd forgive a little bit of pilfering—that is, I would not be too harsh upon the thief," she remarked. "Pretty lace and such like vanities do bear their attractions. But when it comes to violating letters and private papers, that is essentially another affair. What are the police going to do in it? Do you know?" "I believe the servants' boxes and pockets are about to be examined." "I should think, then, my lace, at any rate, will come to light," she laughed, as she tripped up the stairs. The process of searching seemed to be pretty long. Mr. Chandos was in the oak-parlour, when one of the officers, who seemed to be superior to the other, came in. "Well, sir," said he, as he took the seat to which Mr. Chandos invited him, "there's no trace of any stolen property about the maids or their boxes. One or two of them had got some love-letters: they seemed precious more afraid of my reading them than of finding lace or money," he added, with a broad smile. "I just glanced over the epistles, enough to convince myself that there was nothing wrong: but there is no game more formidable to be found." Mr. Chandos made no reply. I thought he looked puzzled. "We have hitherto placed great trust in our servants," he observed, presently. "But the disappearance of these things is unaccountable." "There does seem some mystery about it," returned the policeman. "You say, sir, that you are sure of the housekeeper." "As sure as I am of myself." "Shall we search the rooms in the front, above here, sir? Thieves have a trick of hiding things, you know." "No," decisively replied Mr. Chandos. "My mother might hear you; I could not risk the annoyance to her in her sick state. Besides, the rooms have been fully searched by the housekeeper." "Would you like a watch placed in the house, sir, unknown to the servants?" "No, no," said Mr. Chandos. "It——" The appearance of Mrs. Penn caused the pause. She came in, after knocking quietly at the door. Mr. Chandos rose; the officer rose. "I beg your pardon for my interruption, Mr. Chandos. Will it not be better that the police"—slightly bowing to the one present—"should come up now? Mrs. Chandos has gone into my lady's rooms: if they can come up at once, she will be spared the sight." "Come up for what?" asked Mr. Chandos. "I understood our boxes were to be examined." She evidently meant her own and mine. Mr. Chandos laughed pleasantly.