The girls exchanged a long glance of uneasy speculation. In the dim light
of the remaining lamp the room seemed filled with shadows. Billie drew
the heavy curtains across the casement. Those at the other window were
already drawn.

"Come along, Nancy-Bell," she exclaimed. "Thieves don't blow out lights
and then come back and relight them. It would be extremely unprofessional
if they did and very reckless besides. It's certain to be one of those
timid little persons in a kimono. We had better be getting back to the
drawing-room or Papa will be wondering what has become of us."

Hardly had they closed the door after them, when a figure, wrapped from
head to foot in a long brown garment something like a cape, emerged from
behind the other curtains. Whoever it was, whether man or woman, it was
impossible to judge, opened the door, peeped cautiously into the passage
and, finding it quite empty, marched boldly out. In another moment the
intruder had disappeared into the garden.

As the girls passed along the hall they paused to notice the picturesque
group of servants gathered near the door. There was a smile on every
face, not a smile of ridicule, but of courteous enjoyment.

"Is there any rude person in the length and breadth of Japan?" thought
Billie, while Nancy once more counted heads and then shook her own
thoughtfully.

"I don't understand," she pondered, "but Billie is usually right, so I'll
just cease to worry."