I must say I was
rather taken aback, especially as I recognized the voice of Mr
Babylon. You see, I didn't want to frighten you.
If I had bobbed up from behind the bottles and said "Booh!" you
would have had a serious shock. I wanted to think of a way of
breaking my presence gently to you. But you saved me the trouble,
Dad. Was I really breathing so loudly that you could hear me?'
The girl ended her strange recital, and there was a moment's
silence in the cellar. Racksole merely nodded an affirmative to her
concluding question.
'Well, Nell, my girl,' said the millionaire at length, 'we are much
obliged for your gymnastic efforts - very much obliged. But now, I
think you had better go off to bed. There is going to be some
serious trouble here, I'll lay my last dollar on that?'
'But if there is to be a burglary I should so like to see it, Dad,' Nella
pleaded. 'I've never seen a burglar caught red-handed.'
'This isn't a burglary, my dear. I calculate it's something far worse
than a burglary.'
'What?' she cried. 'Murder? Arson? Dynamite plot? How perfectly
splendid!'
'Mr Babylon informs me that Jules is in London,' said Racksole
quietly.
'Jules!' she exclaimed under her breath, and her tone changed
instantly to the utmost seriousness. 'Switch off the light, quick!'
Springing to the switch, she put the cellar in darkness.
'What's that for?' said her father.
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