In different parts of the attic the men were making most thorough search, overturning this barrel or emptying out the contents of that box with utter disregard of Mistress Dean's wishes, as might have been expected under the circumstances.
The boards of the floor had not been nailed down, and many of these were taken up that a view between the timbers might be had, although it was impossible even a child could have ventured on to the laths and plaster without breaking through into the apartment below.
Not a single hiding-place which might have screened from view a cat, was left unsearched, and at the end of half an hour the leader of the party said to Master Dean, who was yet standing in front of the chest as if petrified:
"I'll go bail that there's no spy in this house, unless he's a mighty small one. We'll have a look at the cellar, and when that has been done we can testify to what is a fact: That you were right in saying it was impossible a Britisher could have got in while you and your family were absent."
The worthy silversmith was in such a state of bewilderment that he gave no heed to the flaring, flickering candles which were held recklessly by their bearers at imminent risk of igniting the inflammable articles with which the attic was well-
