"Naturally, I do not want to disturb the household," said the Countess reproachfully. "I come in here. I go into this corner and I search the shelves for a suitable book." "Having, of course, switched on the light?" "No, I did not switch on the light. I had, you see, my little electric torch with me. With that, I scanned the shelves." "Ah!" said the Superintendent. "Suddenly," continued the Countess dramatically, "I hear something. A stealthy sound. A muffled footstep. I switch out my torch and listen. The footsteps draw nearer--stealthy, horrible footsteps. I shrink behind the screen. In another minute the door opens and the light is switched on. The man--the burglar is in the room." "Yes, but I say--" began Mr. Thesiger. A large-sized foot pressed his, and realizing that Superintendent Battle was giving him a hint, Jimmy shut up. "I nearly died of fear," continued the Countess. "I tried not to breathe. The man waited for a minute, listening. Then, still with that horrible, stealthy tread--" Again Jimmy opened his mouth in protest, and again shut it. "--he crossed to the window and peered out. He remained there for a minute or two, then he recrossed the room and turned out the lights again, locking the door. I am terrified. He is in the room, moving stealthily about in the dark. Ah, it is horrible. Suppose he should come upon me in the dark! In another minute I hear him again by the window. Then silence. I hope that perhaps he may have gone out that way. As the minutes pass and I hear no further sound, I am almost sure that he has done so. Indeed I am in the very act of switching on my torch and investigating when--_prestissimo!_--it all begins." "Yes?" "Ah! But it was terrible--never--never shall I forget it! Two men trying to murder each other. Oh, it was horrible! They reeled about the room, and furniture crashed in every direction. I thought, too, that I heard a woman scream--but that was not in the room. It was outside somewhere. The criminal had a hoarse voice. He croaked rather than spoke. He kept saying, 'Lemme go--lemme go.' The other man was a gentleman. He had a cultured, English voice." Jimmy looked gratified. "He swore--mostly," continued the Countess. "Clearly a gentleman," said Superintendent Battle. "And then," continued the Countess, "a flash and a shot. The bullet hit the bookcase beside me. I--I suppose I must have fainted." She looked up at Bill. He took her hand and patted it. "You poor dear," he said. "How rotten for you." "Silly idiot," thought Bundle. Superintendent Battle had moved on swift, noiseless feet over to the bookcase a little to the right of the screen. He bent down, searching. Presently he stooped and picked something up. "It wasn't a bullet, Countess," he said. "It's the shell of the cartridge. Where were you standing when you fired, Mr. Thesiger?" Jimmy took up a position by the window. "As nearly as I can say, about here." Superintendent Battle placed himself in the same spot.