"
In two or three minutes the servants, headed by the butler, who had
armed himself with a blunderbuss that always hung in his room ready
for action, came downstairs. Miss Penfold came out to meet them
half-dressed. She had a pistol in her hand. The maids had armed
themselves with pokers and brooms.
"Have you looked to the priming of your blunderbuss?" Miss Penfold
asked quietly.
"No, ma'am."
"Well, then, look now," she said sharply. "What's the use of having a
weapon if you don't see that it's in order?"
"It's all right, ma'am," the butler said, examining the priming.
"Well, then, come along and don't make a noise."
They went downstairs noiselessly, and paused when they reached the
hall. The sounds came from the drawing-room. Miss Penfold led the way
to the door, turned the handle, and flung it open. Three men were seen
in the act of packing up some of the valuables. They started up with
an exclamation. Miss Penfold fired, and there was a cry of pain. A
moment later there was a roar as the blunderbuss went off, the
contents lodging in the ceiling. "Without hesitating for a moment the
three men made a rush to the open window, and were gone.
"John Wilton," Miss Penfold said sternly, "you are a fool! I give you
a month's notice from to-day. Fasten up the shutters again and all go
off to bed.
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