could overhear part of the conversation now hurriedly held between the two burglars, if such they were. "You're sure the man does not sleep in the house?" asked the elder man. "Sure," replied the second, in a husky whisper. John Randolph felt pretty certain that he knew the voice, but he hardly dared think it. "Where's the plate chest?" "Don't know: most likely in the pantry." John was now confident that he knew the speaker. "Hush!" whispered the elder man, fiercely, "this passage window 'll do: it won't take much to prise it open: you'll look after the women." "Trust _me_ for that," muttered the other; and Randolph thought he heard a click, as of the cocking of a pistol. "Hush, you fool!" growled the older burglar, with an oath: then there was a few moments' silence, and the two crept back. They sat down under the shelter of some large shrubs, with their backs to John, who could only just make them out from his hiding-place, for it was now getting quite dark. A little while, and they rose, and passed very near their unsuspected watcher, who could just catch the words "Two o'clock," as they made their way back to the fence. A few moments more, and they were clear of the grounds. John Randolph's mind was made up in a moment what to do. Having cautiously followed the two men into the road, and ascertained that they were not lurking anywhere about "The Shrubbery," he hurried off at once to Hopeworth, and communicated what he had seen and heard to the police. He was very anxious that no unnecessary alarm should be given to Mrs Franklin or Mary, and that they should be kept, if possible, in ignorance of the whole matter till the danger was over; so he resolved to accompany the constables, who, with the superintendent, were preparing to encounter the housebreakers. It was presumed, from what he had overheard, that an attempt was to be made on "The Shrubbery" that very night, and that the two men seen by John Randolph were only part of a larger gang. Help was therefore procured, and about one o'clock a party of a dozen, including John, all disguised in labourers' clothes, had noiselessly scaled the fence in different parts by two and two, and, recognising one another by a password previously agreed upon, were soon clustered together under some dense shrubs not far from the passage window before mentioned. It was a tranquil morning, but very cloudy. All was deep stillness in the house. Little did Mrs Franklin and her daughter think, as they read together before parting for the night those comforting words, "The angel of the Lord encampeth round about them that fear Him, and delivereth them," that such foes and such protectors were so close at hand. But they laid them down in perfect peace, and their heavenly Father's loving power was as a wall of fire about them. Patiently did the watchers listen from their hiding-place to every sound. Two o'clock, at last, rang out clear from the great timepiece on