He saw that it was
covered with mud from head to tail, presenting a most woe-begone
appearance, and the mystery of its presence there came home to him
forcibly.
It was a toy spaniel of a breed very popular among ladies of fashion,
and to its collar was still attached a tattered and muddy fragment of
ribbon.
The little animal crouched in a manner which unmistakably pointed to
the fact that it apprehended ill-treatment, but these personal fears
had only a secondary place in its mind, and with one eye on the
intruder it continued to scratch madly at the floor.
Seton acted promptly. He snapped off the light, and, replacing the
lamp in his pocket, stepped into the building and dropped down upon
his knees beside the dog. He next lay prone, and having rapidly
cleared a space with his sleeve of some of the dirt which coated it,
he applied his ear to the floor.
In spite of that iron control which habitually he imposed upon
himself, he became aware of the fact that his heart was beating
rapidly. He had learned at Leman Street that Kerry had brought Mrs.
Irvin's dog from Prince's Gate to aid in the search for the missing
woman. He did not doubt that this was the dog which snarled and
scratched excitedly beside him.
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