Frank looked with some surprise at the womanwho was looking through the slide of his door. Hehad expected to see Nathan Graves. She also regardedhim with interest.

　　``I have brought you some supper,'' she said.

　　Frank reached out and drew in a small waiter,containing a cup of tea and a plate of toast.

　　``Thank you,'' he said. ``Where is the man whobrought me here?''

　　``He has gone out.''

　　``Do you know why he keeps me here in confinement?''

　　``No,'' said the woman, hastily. ``I know nothing.

　　I see much, but I know nothing.''

　　``Are many prisoners brought here as I havebeen?'' asked our hero, in spite of the woman's refusalto speak.

　　``No.''

　　``I can't understand what object they can have indetaining me. If I were rich, I might guess, but Iam poor. I am compelled to work for my dailybread, and have been out of a place for two weeks.''

　　``I don't understand,'' she said, in a low voice,rather to herself than to him. ``But I cannot wait.

　　I must not stand here. I will come up in fifteenminutes, and if you wish another cup of tea, or sometoast, I will bring them.''

　　His confinement did not affect his appetite, forhe enjoyed his tea and toast; and when, as she hadpromised, the woman came up, he told her he wouldlike another cup of tea, and some more toast.

　　``Will you answer one question?'' asked our hero.

　　``I don't know,'' answered the woman in a flurriedtone.

　　``You look like a good woman. Why do you stayin such a house as this?''

　　``I will tell you, though I should do better to besilent. But you won't betray me?''

　　``On no account.''

　　``I was poor, starving, when I had an applicationto come here. The man who engaged me told methat it was to be a housekeeper, and I had no suspicionof the character of the house--that it was aden of--''

　　She stopped short, but Frank understood whatshe would have said.

　　``When I discovered the character of the house, Iwould have left but for two reasons. First, I hadno other home; next, I had become acquainted withthe secrets of the house, and they would have fearedthat I would reveal them. I should incur great risk.

　　So I stayed.''

　　Here there was a sound below. The womanstarted.

　　``Some one has come,'' she said. ``I must go downI will come up as soon as I can with the rest of yoursupper.''

　　``Thank you. You need not hurry.''

　　Our hero was left to ponder over what he hadheard. There was evidently a mystery connected withthis lonely house a mystery which he very muchdesired to solve. But there was one chance. Throughthe aperture in the closet he might both see andhear something, provided any should meet there thatevening.

　�............