I have no time to talk.

We must search the house." Barbara sank into her chair again.

Surely they must hear the beating of her heart, she thought.

Oh, anything, anything to appear calm! The risk was double--first, that they might themselves discover the secret place; secondly, that in tapping the walls, as they were even now doing, they might give her signal to the fugitive, and thus cause him to betray himself.

She buried her face in her embroidery, but was aware that the Captain's eyes were on her.