A SPY IN THE HOUSEHOLD 25

door, for anyone passing through the hall would catch him
at it. It must be at one of the windows.”

‘The room was at an angle of the house. ‘Three win-
dows looked out on to the lawn in front, that at the side
into a large shrubbery, where the bushes grew up close to
it; and Charlie decided that here, if anywhere, the man
would take up his post. As soon, then, as he knew that the
servants were clearing away the supper he took a heavy
cudgel and went out. He walked straight away from the
house, and then, when he knew that his figure could no
longer be seen in the twilight, he made a circuit, and enter-
ing the shrubbery crept along close to the wall of the house
until within two or three yards of the window. Having
made sure that at present, at any rate, no one was near, he
moved out a step or two to look at the window. His
suspicions were at once confirmed. ‘The inside curtains
were drawn, but the casement was open two or three inches.
Charlie again took up his post behind a bush and waited.

In five minutes he heard a twig snap, and then a figure
came along noiselessly and placed itself at the window.
Charlie gave him but a moment to listen, then he sprang
forward, and with his whole strength brought his cudgel
down upon the man’s head. He fell like astone. Charlie
threw open the window, and as he did so the curtain was
torn back by his father, the sound of the blow and the fall
haying reached the ears of those within. Sir Marmaduke
had drawn his sword, and was about to leap through the
window when Charlie exclaimed:

“Ttis I, father. I have caught a fellow listening at the
window, and have just knocked him down.”

“Well done, my boy! Bring lights, please, gentlemen;
let us see what villain we have got here.” But as he spoke
Charlie’s head suddenly disappeared, and a sharp exclama-
tion broke from him as he felt his ankles grasped and his
feet pulled from under him. He came down with such a