"That shows as you're up to no good," said Joe. "You wouldn't fight against seeing your master if you weren't off on the sly at half arter ten." "Half-past ten!" cried Dally. "It isn't." At that moment the chimes ran out the half-hour, and Dally drew her breath hard, and made a desperate effort to pass; but this time Joe caught her round the waist and held her, avoiding a scratched face from the fact that the girl's hands were gloved. "How dare you?" she panted, ready to cry hysterically from vexation. "I dare 'cause I'm told, and I don't believe I did right in letting Miss Leo go." "What?" Dally suddenly grew limp and ceased to struggle. "I said I didn't think I did right in letting Miss Leo go, but I didn't like to stop her." "Miss Leo?" panted Dally. "When?" "Hour and half ago." "It's a story. She's fast asleep in bed." "Where you ought to be," said Joe. "So back you go." "It's a story, I say," panted Dally. "Miss Leo hasn't been out of her room to-night." "Miss Leo went out of this here gate hour and half ago, just as I come back from your gran'father's, and she arn't come back." "Oh!" Dally uttered a low, hoarse cry, and turning sharply round ran swiftly back to the place from which she had come, closely followed by Joe, in whose face the door was closed and the bolt slipped. In another minute Dally had reached the landing, and was listening at Leo's door, which she tried again. All was still, and, her breath coming and going as if she were suppressing hysterical sobs, the girl ran into her bedroom, locked the door, threw bag, umbrella, hat and jacket on the bed, opened the window, crept out with wonderful activity, rolled down the sloping roof, dropped to the ground, and ran over the lawn to the summer-house. Leo Salis had scaled that rustic edifice many a time with great agility, but her skill was poor in comparison with that of the sexton's grandchild. In a few moments she was on the roof, and reaching up to Leo's window, the casement yielding to her touch. She uttered a low sob of rage and doubt now, as, without hesitation, she clambered in to run to the bed, and pass her hands over it. Tenantless; and the cup of tea, heavily drugged with a solution of chloral, stood where it had been placed, untouched, upon the table. Even then the girl was not convinced. She would not believe in the ill success of her plans, and that the handsome woman she despised was as keen of wit as herself. She darted to the wardrobe. Leo's jacket was gone! To another part of the room. The hat she wore was missing!