Now, hurry." Jack and Mary scuttled back to the haven of upstairs, and Matilda shivered down through the blackness.

As she passed through the lower hall, a hand reached out of the dark and touched her.

She managed not to cry out.
"Don't let them know about me!" implored Mrs.De Peyster.
"I'll--I'll do my best, ma'am," quavered Matilda, and glided weakly on.
When she opened the servants' door, a dripping policeman caught her arm.

"Down here, Bill," he called to the man battering at the door above; and a minute later two officers were inside, and the door was closed, and a light was flashing in Matilda's face.
"Now, old girl," said the first officer, tightly gripping her arm and giving it that twist which if a policeman does not give an arm he is no policeman, "what's your little game, eh ?" "I--I live here, sir.

I'm the housekeeper." "Now don't try to put that over on us.