'
The noise of scratching and fumbling ceased, and a key was placed in the
lock.
Hugo hastily extinguished his lamp, and hid behind the portiere.
Immediately the lamp was extinguished he observed, what he had not
observed before, that a faint light came through the aperture of the
door leading to the servants' quarters.
The front-door opened, and he heard footsteps in the hall. Then ensued a
pause. Then the footsteps advanced, and the newcomer evidently went into
the room where the faint light was.
'Come out of that!'
Yes; it was Polycarp's quiet, mincing, imperious voice.
'Come out of it yourself!'
The answering tones were gruff, heavy, full, the speech of a strong
coarse-fibred man.
Hugo peeped cautiously through the portiere. Polycarp was backing slowly
out of the room into the hall, followed by a tall, dark, scowling man,
who bore an ordinary kitchen candle. Polycarp halted in the middle of
the floor. The man also halted; he seemed to be towering over Polycarp
in an attitude of menace.
'Let me pass,' said the man. 'I've had enough of this.'
Polycarp smiled scornfully.
'You're caught,' said he. 'You're one of Hawke's men, aren't you?'
'Go to h---!' was the man's ferocious reply.
'Answer my question, sir.
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