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should have discovered the identity of the
occupant of the bed； to creep noiselessly
from the room； and then to trust to
Providence for escape。
In order to facilitate this scheme； I
removed all the lumber which I had heaped
against the door； and I had nearly completed
my arrangements； when I perceived
the room suddenly darkened by the close
approach of some shadowy object to the
window。 On turning my eyes in that
direction； I observed at the top of the
casement； as if suspended from above； first
the feet； then the legs； then the body； and
at length the whole figure of a man present
himself。 It was Edward Tn。
He appeared to be guiding his descent
so as to bring his feet upon the centre of
the stone block which occupied the lower
part of the window； and； having secured
his footing upon this； he kneeled down and
began to gaze into the room。 As the
moon was gleaming into the chamber； and
the bed…curtains were drawn； he was able
to distinguish the bed itself and its
contents。 He appeared satisfied with his
scrutiny； for he looked up and made a sign
with his hand； upon which the rope by
which his descent had been effected was
slackened from above； and he proceeded to
disengage it from his waist； this accom…
plished； he applied his hands to the
window…frame； which must have been
ingeniously contrived for the purpose； for；
with apparently no resistance； the whole
frame； containing casement and all； slipped
from its position in the wall； and was by
him lowered into the room。
The cold night wind waved the bed…
curtains； and he paused for a momentall
was still againand he stepped in upon
the floor of the room。 He held in his
hand what appeared to be a steel instrument；
shaped something like a hammer；
but larger and sharper at the extremities。
This he held rather behind him； while； with
three long； tip…toe strides； he brought
himself to the bedside。
I felt that the discovery must now be
made； and held my breath in momentary
expectation of the execration in which he
would vent his surprise and disappointment。
I closed my eyesthere was a
pause； but it was a short one。 I heard
two dull blows； given in rapid succession：
a quivering sigh； and the long…drawn；
heavy breathing of the sleeper was for
ever suspended。 I unclosed my eyes； and
saw the murderer fling the quilt across the
head of his victim： he then； with the
instrument of death still in his hand；
proceeded to the lobby…door； upon which he
tapped sharply twice or thrice。 A quick
step was then heard approaching； and a
voice whispered something from without。
Edward answered； with a kind of chuckle；
'Her ladyship is past complaining； unlock
the door； in the devil's name； unless you're
afraid to come in； and help me to lift the
body out of the window。'
The key was turned in the lockthe
door openedand my uncle entered the
room。
I have told you already that I had
placed myself under the shade of a
projection of the wall； close to the door。 I had
instinctively shrunk down； cowering
towards the ground on the entrance of
Edward through the window。 When my
uncle entered the room he and his son
both stood so very close to me that his
hand was every moment upon the point of
touching my face。 I held my breath； and
remained motionless as death。
'You had no interruption from the next
room？' said my uncle。
'No；' was the brief reply。
'Secure the jewels； Ned； the French
harpy must not lay her claws upon them。
You're a steady hand； by G！ not
much bloodeh？'
'Not twenty drops；' replied his son；
'and those on the quilt。'
'I'm glad it's over；' whispered my uncle
again。 'We must lift thethe THING
through the window； and lay the rubbish
over it。'
They then turned to the bedside； and；
winding the bed…clothes round the body；
carried it between them slowly to the
window； and； exchanging a few brief words
with some one below； they shoved it over
the window…sill； and I heard it fall heavily
on the ground underneath。
'I'll take the jewels；' said my uncle；
'there are two caskets in the lower
drawer。'
He proceeded； with an accuracy which；
had I been more at ease； would have
furnished me with matter of astonishment； to
lay his hand upon the very spot where my
jewels lay； and having possessed himself
of them； he called to his son：
'Is the rope made fast above？'
'I'm not a foolto be sure it is；'
replied he。
They then lowered themselves from the
window。 I now rose lightly and cautiously；
scarcely daring to breathe； from my place
of concealment； and was creeping towards
the door； when I heard my cousin's voice；
in a sharp whisper； exclaim： 'Scramble up
again！ Gd dn you； you've forgot to
lock the room…door！' and I perceived； by
the straining of the rope which hung from
above； that the mandate was instantly
obeyed。
Not a second was to be lost。 I passed
through the door； which was only closed；
and moved as rapidly as I could； consistently
with stillness； along the lobby。
Before I had gone many yards； I heard
the door through which I had just passed
double…locked on the inside。 I glided
down the stairs in terror； lest； at every
corner； I should meet the murderer or one
of his accomplices。
I reached the hall； and listened for a
moment to ascertain whether all was silent
around； no sound was audible。 The parlour
windows opened on the park； and through
one of them I might； I thought； easily
effect my escape。 Accordingly； I hastily
entered； but； to my consternation； a
candle was burning in the room； and by
its light I saw a figure seated at the
dinner…table； upon which lay glasses；
bottles； and the other accompaniments of
a drinking…party。 Two or three chairs
were placed about the table irregularly； as
if hastily abandoned by their occupants。
A single glance satisfied me that the
figure was that of my French attendant。
She was fast asleep； having probably
drank deeply。 There was something
malignant and ghastly in the calmness of
this bad woman's features； dimly illuminated
as they were by the flickering blaze
of the candle。 A knife lay upon the table；
and the terrible thought struck me
'Should I kill this sleeping accomplice in
the guilt of the murderer； and thus secure
my retreat？'
Nothing could be easierit was but to
draw the blade across her throatthe
work of a second。 An instant's pause；
however； corrected me。 'No；' thought I；
'the God who has conducted me thus far
through the valley of the shadow of death；
will not abandon me now。 I will fall into
their hands； or I will escape hence； but it
shall be free from the stain of blood。 His
will be done。'
I felt a confidence arising from this
reflection； an assurance of protection which
I cannot describe。 There was no other
means of escape； so I advanced； with a
firm step and col