'
'Simon,' said Hugo, 'go to the front window and keep watch.'
And Hugo ran into the bedroom to Albert.
Decidedly there was a door in the bedroom which had the appearance of
leading into a further room, but the door would not budge. The pair
glanced about. No evidence of recent human habitation was visible either
in the sitting-room or in the bedroom, save only the dictionary, and
Albert commented on this.
'We must force that door,' Hugo decided, 'and be ready to look after
yourself when it gives way.'
As he spoke he could see, in the tail of his eye, Simon opening the
front window and then looking out into the street.
'One--two--charge!' cried Hugo; and he and Albert flung themselves
valiantly against the door.
They made no impression upon it at all.
Breathless and shaken, they looked at each other.
'Suppose I fire into the lock?' said Hugo.
'We might try a key first,' Albert answered.
He took the key from the door between the bedroom and the sitting-room,
and applied it to the lock of the obstinate portal. The obstinate portal
opened at once.
'Empty!' ejaculated Albert, putting his nose into a small dressing-room.
With a gesture of disgust Hugo turned away. In the same instant Simon
withdrew his head into the sitting-room.
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