'
And by the hand he led me to the study. When the door was shut, and we had
reached the far end of the room next the window, I said, but in a low tone,
and holding his arm fast--
'Oh, sir, you don't know what a dreadful person we have living with
us--Madame de la Rougierre, I mean. Don't let her in if she comes; she
would guess what I am telling you, and one way or another I am sure she
would kill me.'
'Tut, tut, child. You _must_ know that's nonsense,' he said, looking pale
and stern.
'Oh no, papa. I am horribly frightened, and Lady Knollys thinks so too.'
'Ha! I dare say; one fool makes many. We all know what Monica thinks.'
'But I _saw_ it, papa. She stole your key last night, and opened your desk,
and read all your papers.'
'Stole my key!' said my father, staring at me perplexed, but at the same
instant producing it. 'Stole it! Why here it is!'
'She unlocked your desk; she read your papers for ever so long. Open it
now, and see whether they have not been stirred.'
He looked at me this time in silence, with a puzzled air; but he did unlock
the desk, and lifted the papers curiously and suspiciously.
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