Then the strong, soothing hand of the austere maid drew her head
down on to the cushion, and the wild anger died away into
passionate sobbing. At last she continued:--
"I will tell you about last night. You are aware, perhaps,
that in this house all servants sleep in the modern wing.
This central block is made up of the dwelling-rooms, with the
kitchen behind and our bedroom above. My maid Theresa sleeps
above my room. There is no one else, and no sound could alarm
those who are in the farther wing. This must have been well
known to the robbers, or they would not have acted as they did.
"Sir Eustace retired about half-past ten. The servants had
already gone to their quarters. Only my maid was up, and she
had remained in her room at the top of the house until I needed
her services. I sat until after eleven in this room, absorbed
in a book. Then I walked round to see that all was right before
I went upstairs. It was my custom to do this myself, for,
as I have explained, Sir Eustace was not always to be trusted.
I went into the kitchen, the butler's pantry, the gun-room,
the billiard-room, the drawing-room, and finally the dining-room.
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