"In the morning a strange discovery was made. A servant came running to me before I was dressed, with the information that our two dogs were dead. I hurried to the kennel and saw their bodies stretched out, cold and stiff.
"Mr. Almer was very fond of these dogs, and I went to him and told him what had occurred. There was a strange, wild look in his eyes which I attributed to want of sleep. But stranger than this weary, wild expression was the smile on his lips when he heard the news.
"He followed me to the kennel, and stooped down.
"'Yes, sir,' I said, 'but who could have done such a cruel thing?'
"'The dogs have been poisoned,' he said, 'here is the meat that was thrown to them. There is still some white powder upon it.'
"'Whoever did this deed,' said my master, 'deserved to die. It is as bad as killing a human creature in cold blood.'
"'Are you sure, sir,' I said, 'there has been nothing stolen from the house?'
"I made an examination of the rooms. Nothing had been taken from them. I tried the door of my master's study to examine that room also, but it was locked. When I returned my master was still kneeling by the dogs.
"'It does not appear that anything has been taken,' I said, 'but the sounds I heard in the night prove that there have been robbers here.'
"'What sounds did you hear?' asked my master, looking up.
"I told him of my alarm, and of my waking my husband, and of my fancies.
"'Fancies!' he said; 'yes--it could have been nothing but imagination. I have been up the whole night, and had there been an attempt at robbery, I must surely have known it. Were any of the other servants disturbed?"
"I had already questioned them, but they had all slept soundly and had heard nothing. I had been also with my lady for a few moments, but she had not been disturbed during the night by anything but the howling of the wind.
"'Let the matter rest,' said my master; 'it will be best. It is my wish that you do not speak of it. The dogs are dead, and nothing can restore them to life. Evil deeds carry their own punishment with them! The next time you are frightened by fancies in the night, and see a light in my study, you may be satisfied that all is well.'
"So the dogs were buried, and no action was taken to punish their murderers; and in a little while the whole affair was forgotten."