espied the odd-looking parcel which stood close to his
feet, where the stranger had put it down.

Mr. Hayley stooped, really with the innocent intention
of moving the parcel out of the way. "Good gracious!"
he cried. "This is a tremendous weight, Anna.
What on earth have you got in there?" He was now
dragging it along the floor.

"Don't do that, sir," she exclaimed involuntarily.
"It's fragile."

"Fragile?" he repeated. "Nonsense! It must be
iron or copper. What is it, Anna?"

She shook her head helplessly. "I do not know. It
is something I have been keeping for a friend."

His face changed. He took a penknife out of his
pocket, and ripped off the stout paper covering.

Then, before the astonished Anna could make a
movement, he very quietly pinioned her elbows and
walked her towards the door giving into the hall.

"Captain Joddrell?" he called out. And with a bewildered
feeling of abject fear, Anna heard the quick
steps of the soldier echoing down the hall.

"Yes; what is it?"

"I want your help over something."

They were now in the hall, and Miss Forsyth, standing
in the doorway of the drawing-room, called out
suddenly, "Oh, Mr. Hayley, you are hurting her!"

"No, I'm not. Will you please lock the front door?"

Then he let go of Anna's arms. He came round
and gazed for a moment into her terrified face. There
was a dreadful look of contempt and loathing in his
eyes. "You'd better say nothing," he muttered. "Anything
you say now may be used in evidence against
you!"

[[316]]

p315 _ -chap- _ toc-1 _ p316w _ toc-2 _ +chap+ _ p317

v?