He was wakened suddenly twenty minutes later by loud screams from downstairs. He sat up and then leapt out of bed at once. He rushed downstairs. Dick followed him.

“Look at this! The master’s study — turned upside down — those drawers ransacked! The safe’s open, too. Mercy me, who’s been here in the night — with all the doors locked and bolted, too!” Joan wailed loudly and wrung her hands as she gazed at the untidy room.

“I say!” said Dick, horrified. “Someone’s been searching for something pretty thoroughly! Even got the safe open — and wrenched the drawers out.”

“How did he get in?” said Julian, feeling bewildered. He went round the house, looking at doors and windows. Except for the kitchen door, which Joan said she had unlocked and unbolted herself as soon as she came down, not a window or door had been touched. All were fastened securely.

Anne came down, looking scared. “What’s the matter?” she said. But Julian brushed her aside. How did that burglar get in? That was what he wanted to know. Through one of the upstairs windows, he supposed — one that somebody had opened last night after he had fastened it. Perhaps in the girls’ room?

But no — not one window was open. All were fastened securely, including Joan’s. Then a thought struck him as he looked into George’s room. Why hadn’t Timmy barked? After all, there must have been quite a bit of noise, however quiet the thief had been. He had himself heard something and had awakened. Why hadn’t Timmy, then?

George was trying to pull Timmy off the bed. “Ju, Ju! There’s something wrong with Timmy. He won’t wake up!” she cried. “He’s breathing so heavily, too — just listen to him! And what’s the matter downstairs? What’s happened?”

Julian told her shortly while he examined Timmy. “Somebody got in last night — your father’s study’s in the most awful mess — absolutely ransacked from top to bottom, safe and all. Goodness knows how the fellow got in to do it.”

“How awful!” said George, looking very pale. “And now something’s wrong with Tim. He didn’t wake up last night when the burglar came — he’s ill, Julian!”

“No, he’s not. He’s been doped,” said Julian, pulling back Timmy’s eyelids. “So that’s why he was so long outside last night! Somebody gave him some meat or something with dope in — some kind of drug. And he ate it, and slept so soundly that he never heard a thing — and isn’t even awake yet.”

“Oh, Julian — will he be all right?” asked George anxiously, stroking Timmy’s motionless body. “But how could he take any food from a stranger in the night?”

“Maybe he picked it up — the burglar may have flung it down hoping that Timmy would eat it,” said Julian. “Now I understand why he looked so sheepish when he came in. He didn’t even jump up and lick me.”