What can we do ?" "Bolt!" answered Diggory, and began tip-toeing back towards the library door.

"Stay here half a 'jiffy,'" he added; "I'll go and reconnoitre." Ages seemed to pass while Jack Vance and Mugford stood in the dark passage awaiting their companion's return.

At length the door was pushed softly open.
"It's all right; there's no one there.

I must have been mistaken.
Come along." In a very short time the Triple Alliance were once more outside The Hermitage.

Diggory lingered for a moment to close the window, and then followed his companions through the shrubs and over the wall.
"You are a great ass, Diggy, to go giving us a start like that," said Jack, as they paused for a moment to take breath before returning to the house.
"Well, I could have sworn I heard the gravel crunch as if some one was walking on it," returned the other.