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noiselessly； and he made sure there was no one anywhere in any of
these rooms on the ground floor。
He locked the front door and the back to make sure no one should
enter or leave too easily； and returned on tiptoe； moving to and
fro like a shadow cast by a changing light； so swift and noiseless
were his movements。
For a little he remained crouching against the side of the stairway；
listening for any sound that might float down to him from above。
But none came … and on a sudden； in one movement； as it were； he
ran up the stairs and crouched down on the topmost one so that any
bullet aimed at him as he appeared might perhaps fly overhead。
But none was fired； there was still no sound at all； no sign that
the house held any living creature beside himself。 He began to
think that Deede Dawson must have sent the two women away and now
have gone himself。
But there was the pen downstairs with ink still wet upon the nib
to prove that he had been here recently； and again very suddenly
Rupert leaped to his feet and ran noiselessly down the corridor
and entered quickly into Ella's room。
He had not been in it since the night of his arrival at Bittermeads；
but it appeared to him extraordinarily familiar and every little
object in it of ornament or use seemed to speak to him softly of
Ella's gracious presence。
Of Ella herself there was no sign； but he noticed that the tassel
at the end of the window blind cord was moving as if recently
disturbed。
The movement was very slight； almost imperceptible； indeed； but it
existed； and it proved that some one must very shortly before have
been standing at the window。 He moved to it and looked out。
The view commanded the road by which he had approached Bittermeads；
and he wondered if Ella had been standing there and had seen his
approach； and then had concealed herself for some reason。
But； if so； why and where was she hiding？ And where was Deede
Dawson？ And why was everything so silent and so still？
He turned from the window； and as he did so he caught a faint sound
in the passage without。
Instantly he crouched behind the bed； the heavy glass inkpot that
was his one weapon poised in his hand。
The sound did not come again； but as he waited； he saw the door
begin to open very slowly； very quietly。
Lower still he crouched； the inkpot ready to throw； every nerve taut
and tense for the leap at his foe's throat with which he meant to
follow it up。 The door opened a little more； very slowly； very
carefully。 It was wide enough now to admit of entry； and through
the opening there sidled； pale and red…eyed； Ella's mother； looking
so frail and feeble and so ruffled and disturbed she reminded Rupert
irresistibly of a frightened hen。
She edged her way in as though she dared not open the door too
widely； and Rupert hesitated in great perplexity and vexation； for
he saw that he must show himself； and he feared that she would
announce his presence by flight or screams。
But he could not possibly get away without her knowledge； and
besides； she might be able to give him useful information。
He stood up quickly； with his finger to his lips。 〃Hush！〃 he said。
〃Not a sound … not a sound。〃 The warning seemed unnecessary； for
Mrs。 Dawson appeared too paralysed with fear to utter even the
faintest cry as she dropped tremblingly on the nearest chair。
〃Hush！ Hush！〃 he said。 〃Where is Ella？〃
〃I … I don't know；〃 quavered Mrs。 Dawson。
〃When did you see her last？〃
〃A little while ago；〃 Mrs。 Dawson faltered。 She went upstairs。
She didn't come down； so I thought I would try to find her。〃
〃Where's Deede Dawson？〃 Rupert asked。
〃I … I don't know；〃 she quavered again。
〃When did you see him last？〃
〃I … I … a little while ago；〃 she faltered。 〃He went upstairs … he
didn't come down again。 I thought I would try to find her … him … I
was so frightened when they didn't either of them come down again。
It was evident she was far too confused and upset to give any useful
information of any nature； even if she knew anything。
〃Deede's been so strange；〃 she said。 〃And Ella too。 I think it's
very hard on me … dreams； too。 He said he wanted her to help him
get a packing…case ready he had to send away somewhere。 I don't
know where。 I don't think Ella wanted to … 〃
〃A packing…case？〃 Rupert muttered。 〃What for？〃
〃It's what they came upstairs to do；〃 Mrs。 Dawson said。 〃And … and
… 〃 She began to cry feebly。 〃It's my nerves；〃 she said。 〃He's
looked so strange at us all day … and neither of them has come down
again。〃
CHAPTER XXIX
THE ATTIC
It was evident that more had occurred to make Mrs。 Dawson afraid
that she would； or perhaps could； say。
〃Wait here；〃 Rupert said to her。 〃Don't stir。〃 The command seemed
superfluous； for she had not at that moment the appearance of still
possessing the power to move。 Without speaking again； Rupert left
the room and went quickly to the foot of the narrow stairs that led
to the attics above。
He listened； crouching there； and heard nothing； and a cold fear
came to him that perhaps Deede Dawson had done up above what he
wished to do and then effected his escape while he himself had been
lingering in Ella's room。
Adopting his plan of a rapid rush to disconcert the aim of any one
who might be about to fire at him； he made a swift dash up the
stairs and on the topmost one crouched down again and waited。
But still nothing happened； all was very quiet； and the door of one
attic； the one which had been assigned to him as a bed…chamber； was
wide open so that he could see into it and see that it was unoccupied。
But the doors of both the others were closed； and as he looked he
made out in the gloom； for this landing by the attic was very
badly…lighted by a small and awkwardly…placed skylight； a scattered
dozen or so of hairpins； and a tortoiseshell comb such as he had
seen sometimes in Ella's hair； lying on the floor near the door of
the larger of the two attics； the one in which he remembered well
he had found Deede Dawson on a certain night busy measuring and
examining and empty packing…case。
With one quick rush he crossed the landing and flung himself at the
door。
It opened at once； for it was not locked； and within he saw Deede
Dawson； screw…driver in his hand； standing behind a large
packing…case； the lid of which he had apparently that minute
finished fastening down。
He looked up as Rupert entered thus precipitately； and he showed no
sign of surprise or alarm。
〃You're back early；〃 he said。 〃Something gone wrong？〃
〃What are you doing？ What's in there？〃 Rupert asked； looking at
the packing…case； his mouth and lips so suddenly dry he found it
difficult to speak at all。
Deede Dawson began to laugh； a low and dreadful laughter that had
in it no trace of merriment at all； but only of mockery and malice。
It was such laughter as a devil from the nethermost pit might give
vent to when he saw at last a good man yield to long temptation。
〃What's in there？〃 Rupert said again； pointing to the packing…case；
and it was as though his soul swooned within him for fear of what
the answer might be。
〃What do