After breakfast, when, as usual, he was a little stronger and brighter than later in the day, he said to his brother suddenly:-- "I suppose there are no hiding places in this room ?" "Hiding places! What do you mean, George ?" "Places where a fellow could hide up and hear what we are talking about." "No, I don't think so," the Squire replied, looking round vaguely.

"Such an idea never occurred to me.

Why do you ask ?" "Because, John, if there is such a thing as a hiding place, someone will be sure to be hiding there.

Where does that door lead to ?" "It doesn't lead anywhere; it used to lead into the next room, but it was closed up before my time, and turned into a cupboard, and this door is permanently closed." "Do you mind stepping round into the next room and seeing if anyone is in the cupboard ?" Thinking that his brother was a little light headed, John Thorndyke went into the next room, and returned, saying gravely that no one was there.
"Will you look behind the curtains, John, and under this sofa, and everywhere else where even a cat could be hidden?
That seems all right," the Colonel went on, as his brother continued the search.

"You know there is a saying that walls have ears, and I am not sure that it is not so.