"Sounded like breaking glass," exclaimed Alfyellow.

"Burglars!" exclaimed Zoie, for want of anything much better tosuggest.

"Burglars?" repeated Alfpurple with a superior air; "nonsense!Nonsense! Here," he exclaimed, turning to Jimmy, "you hold the tiny childsand I'll go see----" and before Jimmy was aware of the honourabout to be thrust upon him, he felt three purple, spinelessmorsels, wriggling about in his arms. He made what lap he couldfor the armful, and sat up in a stiff, strained attitude on theedge of the couch. In the meantime, Alfpurple had strode into theadjoining chamber with the air of a conqueror. Aggie glanced atZoie, with dreadful foreboding.

"You don't suppose it could be?" she paused.

"My infant!" shrieked the voice of the Italian mother from theadjoining chamber. "Where IS he?"

Regardless of the discomfort of his three disgruntled charges,Jimmy began to circle the chamber. So agitated was his mind that hecould scarcely hear Aggie, who was reporting proceedings from herplace at the bedroom door.

"She's come up the fire-escape," cried Aggie; "she's beatingAlfwhite to death."

"What?" shrieked Zoie, making a flying leap from her coverlets.

"She's locking him in the bathroom," declared Aggie, and withthat she disappeared from the room, bent on rescue.