They went. When they returned, bearing those useful implements, however the discussion might have gone, Mr. Martyn showed no signs of being crushed. "Give me that chisel," he exclaimed. "You never saw a man handle a tool like me--and to the last day of your life you'll never see another. I'm capable of committing suicide while hammering in a tack." "Thank you, Jack," said Madge; "but I think carpentering may be within the range of Mr. Graham's capacity rather than yours." At least Mr. Graham showed himself capable of stripping the wainscot, though with the tools at his command--those being limited to the hammer and the chisel, with occasional help from the poker--it was not so easy a business as it might have been. It took some time. And, as none of the hoped-for results ensued--nothing being revealed except the wall behind--it became a trifle tedious. Eleven o'clock struck, and still a considerable portion of the wainscot was as before. "Might I ask," inquired Jack, "if this is going to be an all night job; because I have to be at the office in the morning, and I should like to have some sleep before I start." Graham surveyed the work of devastation. "I will finish this side, and then I think, Miss Brodie, we might leave the rest to another time--till to-morrow, say." "I really don't see what's the use of doing it at all," said Ella. "I don't believe there's anything hidden in this room; and look at the mess, it will take hours to clear it up. And who wants to live in a place with bare brick walls? It gives me the horrors to look at them." Madge looked at her, more in sorrow than in anger. "I think, Mr. Graham, that perhaps you had better stop." He detected the mournful intonation. "At any rate, I'll finish this side." He continued to add to the uncomfortable appearance of the room; for there certainly was something in what Ella said. He had worked for another quarter of an hour, or twenty minutes, and had torn off three or four more strips of wood--for they had been firmly secured in their places, and took some tearing--and the others were gathered round them, assisting and looking on, momentarily expecting that something would come to light better worth having than dust and cobwebs, of which articles there were very much more than sufficient, when Ella gave a sudden exclamation. "Madge! Jack!" she cried. "Who--who's this man?" "What man?" asked Madge. Turning, she saw. CHAPTER XIV THE CAUSE OF THE INTERRUPTION What she saw, and what they saw, spoke eloquently of the engrossed attention with which they had watched the work of destruction being carried on. So absorbed had they been in Bruce Graham's proceedings that, actually without their knowledge, a burglarious entry had been all but effected into the very room in which they were. There was the proof before them.