Jacques, whitefaced and trembling, the same and yet not the same. He was surprised and frightened.
He hadn't expected me.
"One word and you're a dead man, Jacques," I said, with an angry frown and an expression on my face that told the wretched, shaking servant that I meant what I said.
He had evidently thought to entrap burglars and had not expected the sudden illumination and attack, and certainly not me. As a matter of fact, if I had been two seconds later, he would have been outside the other door in the scullery, and the alarm would have been sounding through the house. My luck just saved me.
Immediate action following decision got me through this scrape.
"Listen to me, Jacques. Do you hear me?"
"Yes, sir."
"I have been trying to find your master's will."
"Yes, sir."
"I have failed."
"Yes, sir."
"Oh, hang your 'Yes, sirs'—you will not whisper one word about my being here."
"No, sir."
