e burglar ry t door anyly fixed to t of tlig eaco get near it, let alone break in.

    Steady footsteps came to t opened again.

    ill looked up at t ed even more, and found ingly smoot in t guilty or ashamed.

    Sensing Lyra beside ient and angry, ill said quickly, quot;Excuse me, but Lyra t  by mistake.quot;

    quot;Lyra? I dont know a Lyra.  an unusual name. I know a c;

    Cursing ting, ill said, quot;Im ;

    quot;I see. ter come in.quot;

    ood aside. Neite expecting tepped inside uncertainly. t against tained dainty porcelain figures. ill sa standing in ting to be called.

    quot;Come into my study,quot; said Sir Che hall.

    eous, even  to  put ill on guard. tudy able in a cigar-smoke-and-leat of o be full of booksures, ing troped cabinets containing antique scientific instruments—brass microscopes, telescopes covered in green leatants, compasses; it er.

    quot;Sit do; said Sir Ced a leat at t on. quot;ell?   to say?quot;

    quot;You stole—quot; began Lyra ly, but ill looked at opped.

    quot;Lyra t somet; ;eve come to get it back.quot;

    quot;Is t you mean?quot; ook a velvet clotood up. er resting in his palm.

    quot;Yes!quot; Lyra burst out, and reac But  reacer in a glass-fronted cabinet before locking it and dropping tcoat pocket.

    quot;But it isnt yours, Lizzie,quot; ;Or Lyra, if ts your name.quot;

    quot;It is mine! Its my aleter!quot;

    o   for ;I t t t about tter,quot; he said.

    quot