Question: CHAPTER XVII

MR. DUGE FAILS

Norris Vine without a doubt was trapped. He realized it from the moment Phineas Duge closed the door and turned the key. The two men who had entered were to all appearance absolutely harmless and ordinary. They were dressed most correctly in dark clothes of fashionable cut. Each wore a silk hat, and would have passed without a moment's question amongst any ordinary group of better-class city men. Nevertheless, when at his quick motion toward the bell the fingers of one of them closed upon his arm, he knew very well that he was helpless. He suffered them to lead him without resistance into the little sitting-room. What could he have done? If he had opened his mouth to call out, he saw the hand of the man who was watching him, with his arm linked through his, ready to close his lips. They all passed into the sitting-room, and Phineas Duge closed the door behind them.

"I am sorry," he said, "to resort to such old-fashioned measures, but as you know I am methodical in all my ways. The first place to look for stolen goods is obviously in the abode of the thief. Frankly, I have not much expectation of discovering anything here. At the same time I could not afford to run the risk of leaving these rooms and your person unsearched."

"I can quite appreciate that," Norris Vine said, seating himself in the armchair towards which he was being gently pushed. "The only favour I will ask is that you are as quick as possible, as I have rather a busy afternoon, and want to lunch early." 1. Was someone trapped?
2. Who?
3. Who is the trapper
4. How many men entered?
5. What is the other one's name
6. What were they wearing
7. What about on their heads?
8. Could Norris speak out?
9. Why?
10. Did Norris seat himself? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers: 1. Yes
2. Norris Vine
3. Phineas Duge
4. two
5. unknown
6. dark clothes of fashionable cut
7. silk hat
8. He could but didn't cry out
9. the man was ready to close his lips.
10. He seated himself while he was being gently pushed.

Question: CHAPTER IX.

IN WHICH MR. HAMLIN PASSES.

With his lips sealed by the positive mandate of the lovely spectre, Mr. Hamlin resigned himself again to weakness and sleep. When he awoke, Olly was sitting by his bedside; the dusky figure of Pete, spectacled and reading a good book, was dimly outlined against the window--but that was all. The vision--if vision it was--had fled.

"Olly," said Mr. Hamlin, faintly.

"Yes!" said Olly, opening her eyes in expectant sympathy.

"How long have I been dr--I mean how long has this--spell lasted?"

"Three days," said Olly.

"The ---- you say!" (A humane and possibly weak consideration for Mr. Hamlin in his new weakness and suffering restricts me to a mere outline of his extravagance of speech.)

"But you're better now," supplemented Olly.

Mr. Hamlin began to wonder faintly if his painful experience of the last twenty-four hours were a part of his convalsecence. He was silent for a few moments and then suddenly turned his face toward Olly.

"Didn't you say something about--about--your sister, the other day?"

"Yes--she's got back," said Olly, curtly.

"Here?"

"Here."

"Well?" said Mr. Hamlin, a little impatiently.

"Well," returned Olly, with a slight toss of her curls, "she's got back and I reckon it's about time she did."

Strange to say, Olly's evident lack of appreciation of her sister seemed to please Mr. Hamlin--possibly because it agreed with his own idea of Grace's superiority and his inability to recognise or accept her as the sister of Gabriel.

"Where has she been all this while?" asked Jack, rolling his large hollow eyes over Olly. 1. Who had returned?
2. What was her name?
3. Who else was she related to?
4. How long had the man been passed out?
5. Was he alone when he woke up?
6. Who was nearest to him?
7. Where was she?
8. Was anyone else there?
9. Who?
10. Where there was he? Provide a numbered list of answers.
****
A numbered of answers:
1. oLLY'S SISTER
2. Grace
3. Gabriel.
4. 3 days
5. no
6. Olly
7. by his bedside
8. yes
9. Pete
10. nearer the window