Evidently they encountered no one in the passageway.
Listening intently I heard the dining-room door thrown back violently, a confused noise of feet, of chairs hurriedly pushed aside, a voice uttering a stern order, the sound of a brief struggle, ended by a blow and the thud of a body striking the floor, then numerous voices speaking excitedly, followed by silence.

Convinced the work had been accomplished, and that the house was now entirely in our possession, I walked across the room to the desk.

Miss Hardy still sat where I had ordered, and I was compelled to pass her chair.

Her eyes met mine coldly.
"Would you permit me to go across to my father ?" she asked.
"Most certainly; you are in no sense a prisoner, except I shall have to ask you to remain in the room for the present." She inclined her head ever so slightly.
"I shall ask no further favor, and thank you for granting this." I sank into the chair at the desk, and watched her cross the room.

Her words and actions hurt me, and yet it was scarcely to be expected that she would be pleased with the sudden change in affairs.