But how had the thief contrived to make his escape from the house?
I had found the front door locked and bolted, as I had left it at night, when I went to open it, after getting up.

As for the other doors and windows, there they were still, all safe and fast, to speak for themselves.

The dogs, too?
Suppose the thief had got away by dropping from one of the upper windows, how had he escaped the dogs?
Had he come provided for them with drugged meat?
As the doubt crossed my mind, the dogs themselves came galloping at me round a corner, rolling each other over on the wet grass, in such lively health and spirits that it was with no small difficulty I brought them to reason, and chained them up again.

The more I turned it over in my mind, the less satisfactory Mr.Franklin's explanation appeared to be.
We had our breakfasts--whatever happens in a house, robbery or murder, it doesn't matter, you must have your breakfast.

When we had done, my lady sent for me; and I found myself compelled to tell her all that I had hitherto concealed, relating to the Indians and their plot.