Her mistress, however, was not ready for bed, and dismissed Jenny, saying that she would look after herself.

Jenny thereupon retired to her own bedroom and wrote a letter.

After writing it, she remembered that she had not put out the distilled water which Mrs.Croyle was in the habit of using for her toilet.

She accordingly returned to Mrs.Croyle's bedroom, and to her surprise found it empty.

She waited for a quarter of an hour, and then becoming uneasy, went downstairs into the hall.