'_Deed_ I leave the key in the door?' ejaculated Madame, with both hands raised, and such a genuine look of consternation as for a moment shook me. It was the nature of this woman's deceptions that they often puzzled though they seldom convinced me. 'I re-ally think, Maud, all those so frequent changes and excite-ments they weel overturn my poor head.' 'And the windows are secured with iron bars--what are they for?' I whispered sternly, pointing with my finger at these grim securities. 'That is for more a than forty years, when Sir Phileep Aylmer was to reside here, and had this room for his children's nursery, and was afraid they should fall out.' 'But if you look you will find these bars have been put here very recently: the screws and marks are quite new.' '_Eendeed!_' ejaculated Madame, with prolonged emphasis, in precisely the same consternation. 'Why, my dear, they told a me down stair what I have tell a you, when I ask the reason! Late a me see.' And Madame mounted on a chair, and made her scrutiny with much curiosity, but could not agree with me as to the very recent date of the carpentry. There is nothing, I think, so exasperating as that sort of falsehood which affects not to see what is quite palpable. 'Do you mean to say, Madame, that you really think those chisellings and screws are forty years old?' 'How can I tell, cheaile? What does signify whether it is forty or only fourteen years? Bah! we av other theeng to theenk about. Those villain men! I am glad to see bar and bolt, and lock and key, at least, to our room, to keep soche faylows out!' At that moment a knock came to the door, and Madame's nasal 'in moment' answered promptly, and she opened the door, stealthily popping out her head. 'Oh, that is all right; go you long, no ting more, go way.' 'Who's there?' I cried. 'Hold a your tongue,' said Madame imperiously to the visitor, whose voice I fancied I recognised--'_go_ way.' Out slipped Madame again, locking the door; but this time she returned immediately, bearing a tray with breakfast. I think she fancied that I would perhaps attempt to break away and escape; but I had no such thought at that moment. She hastily set down the tray on the floor at the threshold, locking the door as before. My share of breakfast was a little tea; but Madame's digestion was seldom disturbed by her sympathies, and she ate voraciously. During this process there was a silence unusual in her company; but when her meal was ended she proposed a reconnaissance, professing much uncertainty as to whether my Uncle had been arrested or not. 'And in case the poor old gentleman be poot in what you call stone jug, where are _we_ to go my dear Maud--to Knowl or to Elverston? You must direct.' And so she disappeared, turning the key in the door as before. It was an old custom of hers, locking herself in her room, and leaving the key in the lock; and the habit prevailed, for she left it there again.