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She rubbed her ring and whispered, “Open” The lid flipped back gently, and Sassy scooped up the small leather satchel hidden within

“Now,” Sassy said, still speaking to herself in a whisper, “we shall see” However, it was at this point that Sassy heard a sound outside and went to her , only half-shielded by the first panel she had sewn and put up earlier

As soon as she looked out her , she iainst the wall Then, bent low and in a crouched position, she blew out the candles on the sideboard table

Hurriedly she straightened slightly and looked out theIntruders, two, she thought It wasn’t clear, as the light was that of only a half moon, but one of the men boldly carried a lantern, and she focused on his —but, faith, as that on his head? A turban? Was he wearing a turban? That didn’t make sense

The other man had his back to her, but he appeared tall and well built He wore a dark coat and an old-fashioned tri-cornered hat

Three of them—there were three of them! What did they want? Why were they here? She could think of nothing that had any great value at the school Yet, they had the look of thieves!

Hastily she slid into her slippers and tied her serviceable wrapper tightly around herself beforea mad dash for the stairs

She reached the first-floor landing and nearly skidded to a halt, putting her hand over her mouth to stifle any sound Disbelief suddenly took coave way to her wobbly knees and crouched in the dark, flat up against the banister

The iniquitous sight that had sent her into such a state was that of Miss Sallstone, appearing fully awake, holding a glass-encased lighted candle and opening the doors ith a welco whisper

Shocked, Sassy watched the woman usher in the three men, one of whom one looked to be a brute with an untrimmed beard, swarthy and crude-featured

Miss Sallstone invited these blackguards into the school … and then she led them to her private quarters across the hall

What the deuce was going on? Unconsciously she rubbed her ring, and a voice, her hter It permeates the air at Netherby Be careful

Lessons ell, although Sassy had a difficult tihts of thethe headmistress and the men she had invited into her private quarters What was it all about? Just as the wo ladies—and in the ht?

But the question reer? So

inside told her they were The ansas clear: she would have to keep a silent watch, at least until she could discover more