"Nothing very smart," said Zizi, nonchalantly, "looked to me like an old-fashioned waterproof,--the kind they wore, before raincoats came in. Only, it _wasn't_ waterproof, not by several jugs full! But I wrung it out all I could, and then I tried to get in the house. But,--it was all locked up, and as it seemed a pity to disturb all you sound sleepers, I ran to the village and begged a lodging with my friend, Mr. Peterson. He and his wife were most kind, and put me in a nice dry, little bed, that had no tassels or ghosts attached to it. I sent Mr. Wise a note, as soon as I could, so he wouldn't worry." "That was the note I received at the breakfast table," Wise informed them. "Now, you see, there is a real man at the bottom of the villainy going on up here. He desired to remove Zizi, lest she discover his crime, and I daresay, he planned to dispose of me also, if he could manage it. His seems to be a will that stops at nothing, that is ready to commit any crime or any number of crimes to save his own skin. Has anybody present any idea of the identity of this man? Any reason to suspect any one? Any light whatever to throw on the situation?" "No!" declared Landon, "we have not! I speak for myself, and for all present, when I say we have no knowledge of a wretch answering to that description! Nor did I suppose that such existed! Can you track him down, Mr. Wise? Is your power sufficient to discover and deal death to this beast you describe?" "I hope so," and Penny Wise carefully scrutinized the face of the speaker. "I think, Mr. Landon, that with Zizi's help, with the enlightenment her awful experience gives us, I can get the criminal and that in a short time." "Good!" exclaimed Hardwick. "I am not vindictive, but I confess I never wanted anything more than to see brought to justice the man who could conceive and carry out such diabolical crimes!" "Are you sure they are one and the same?" asked Braye, "I mean the man who killed Mr. Bruce and Vernie, and the one who carried off Miss Zizi?" "Yes," said Wise, thoughtfully. "There are not two such, I should say. But the quest of one person is my immediate business. If I find there are others implicated, I shall get them, too. I am not more incensed over the attack on Zizi than on your two friends, but I don't deny it has given me an added wrong to avenge. But for the child's strong nerve, and clever quickness of action, she would now lie at the bottom of the lake where----" He stopped abruptly. "Go away, all of you," he said, in a low, strained voice. "I mean, go about your business, but leave me to myself for a time. Peterson, come in here." He went into the Room with the Tassels. Peterson followed, and Zizi glided in beside them. The door closed and the group left in the hall looked at one another in perplexity and horror. "I can't understand, Wynne," said Milly, "who took Zizi away?" "I don't know, dear; what do you think, Professor?"