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They stood in the darkness listening But not a sound came from

behind the door Was this room empty, too? In each one's mind was

the fear that the birds had flown Lemerre carefully took the

handle of the door and turned it Very slowly and cautiously he

opened the door A strong light beat out through the widening gap

upon his face And then, though his feet did not move, his

shoulders and his face drew back The action was significant

enough This room, at all events, was not empty But of what

Leave no hint He opened the door

wider, and now Hanaud saw Ricardo, treain there was no expression of surprise,

consternation, or delight He stood stolidly and watched Then he

turned to Ricardo, placed a finger on his lips, and made room

Ricardo crept on tiptoe to his side And now he too could look in

He saw a brightly lit bedroom with athe lake On his right in the

partition wall a door stood open Through the door he could see a

dark, less closet, with a s and trailed upon the floor, as though soed froreen hat with a brown ostrich feather, and a