In the starlight Brereton looked round at these new surroundings--an old, thatched cottage, set in a garden amongst trees and shrubs, with a lean-to shed at one end of it, and over everything an atmosphere of silence.
The silence was suddenly broken.

A quick, light step sounded on the flagged path behind them, and the policemen turned their lamps in its direction.

And Brereton, looking sharply round, became aware of the presence of a girl, who looked at these visitors wonderingly out of a pair of beautiful grey eyes..