I strove to do as he said, and tell what I had to tell in as few words as possible. That I had said it must be Sir Thomas Chandos: that Mrs. Penn, wildly excited, said it was not Sir Thomas; and so on to the note she gave Lizzy Dene. Mr. Chandos grew a little excited himself as he read the note. "Nothing could have been more unfortunate than this. Nothing; nothing." "The most curious thing is, that when Lizzy Dene came back she affirmed to Mrs. Penn that she had delivered the note," I resumed. "I cannot make that out." Mr. Chandos sat thinking, his pale face full of trouble and perplexity. "Could Mrs. Penn have written two notes, think you, Anne?" "I fear to think so: but it is not impossible. I only saw one in the basket; but I scarcely noticed in my hurry." "If she did not write two, the mischief as yet is confined to the house, and I must take care that for this night at least it is not carried beyond it. After that——" He concluded his sentence in too low a tone to be heard, and rang for Hickens. The man came immediately, and his master spoke. "Hickens, will you lock the entrance doors of the house, back and front, and put the keys into your pocket. No one must pass out of it again to-night." Hickens stared as if stupefied. It was the most extraordinary order ever given to him at Chandos. "Why, sir?" he cried. "Whatever for?" "It is my pleasure, Hickens," replied Mr. Chandos, in his quiet tone of command. "Lock the doors and keep the keys; and suffer no person to go out on any pretence whatsoever. No person that the house contains, you understand, myself excepted. Neither Mrs. Chandos nor Mrs. Penn; Miss Hereford"—turning to me with a half smile—"or the servants. Should any one of them present themselves at the door, and, finding it fast, ask to be let out, say you have my orders not to do it." "Very well, sir," replied the amazed Hickens. "There's two of the maids out on an errand now, sir; are they to be let in?" "Certainly. But take care that you fasten the door afterwards again. Go at once and do this; and then send Lizzy Dene to me." Away went Hickens. Mr. Chandos paced the room until Lizzy Dene appeared. "Did you want me, sir?" "I do. Come in and shut the door. What I want from you, Lizzy, is a little bit of information. If, as I believe, you are true to the house you serve, and its interests, you will give it me truthfully." Lizzy burst into tears, without any occasion, that I could see, and hung her head. Evidently there was something or other on which she feared to be questioned. "It's what I always have been, sir, and what I hope I shall be. What have I done?" "Did Mrs. Penn give you a letter, some two or three hours ago, to deliver at Mr. Edwin Barley's?" "Yes, sir," was the reply, spoken without hesitation or embarrassment. Apparently that was not Lizzy Dene's sore point. "Did you deliver it?" Lizzy hesitated now, and Mr. Chandos repeated his question.