"Was there a rug in the middle of the floor at that time?" Ned went
on.

"No more than there is a bold lion in the middle of this floor, sir."

"Well, what did you do after you got up there to-night?"

"I hunted around for the man who had been lying there listening to
the talk in this room, but I didn't find him, sir."

"Did you ascertain where all the servants were at the time the
listening must have been going on?" asked Jack, after a short pause.

"All but one," was the reply.

"And that one? Where is he now? That is, tell, if you know where he
is?"

"I don't know, sir. He has left the house, I reckon--bag and
baggage."

"Who was it?" demanded Jack, moving toward the door.

"Chang Chu, the Chink, may the Evil One get into his bed!"

"And then you came here and notified Jack?" asked Ned. "As soon as
you learned that Chang Chu was not in the house?"

"Indeed I did--within a minute and a half."