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sip。 This she did； and found an opportunity of absorbing it in her
handkerchief。
Plainly he had no idea of her countermoves。 The scheme seemed to
him in proper train； and he turned to poke out the fire。 She
instantly seized the glass； and poured its contents down her bosom。
When he faced round again she was holding the glass to her lips；
empty。
In due course he locked the doors and saw that the shutters were
fastened。 She attended to a few closing details of housewifery； and
a few minutes later they retired for the night。
5。 FROM ELEVEN O'CLOCK TO MIDNIGHT
When Manston was persuaded； by the feigned heaviness of her
breathing； that Anne Seaway was asleep； he softly arose； and dressed
himself in the gloom。 With ears strained to their utmost she heard
him complete this operation； then he took something from his pocket；
put it in the drawer of the dressing…table； went to the door； and
down the stairs。 She glided out of bed and looked in the drawer。
He had only restored to its place a small phial she had seen there
before。 It was labelled 'Battley's Solution of Opium。' She felt
relieved that her life had not been attempted。 That was to have
been her sleeping…draught。 No time was to be lost if she meant to
be a match for him。 She followed him in her nightdress。 When she
reached the foot of the staircase he was in the office and had
closed the door； under which a faint gleam showed that he had
obtained a light。 She crept to the door； but could not venture to
open it； however slightly。 Placing her ear to the panel； she could
hear him tearing up papers of some sort； and a brighter and
quivering ray of light coming from the threshold an instant later；
implied that he was burning them。 By the slight noise of his
footsteps on the uncarpeted floor； she at length imagined that he
was approaching the door。 She flitted upstairs again and crept into
bed。
Manston returned to the bedroom close upon her heels； and entered
itagain without a light。 Standing motionless for an instant to
assure himself that she still slept； he went to the drawer in which
their ready…money was kept； and removed the casket that contained
it。 Anne's ear distinctly caught the rustle of notes； and the chink
of the gold as he handled it。 Some he placed in his pocket； some he
returned to its place。 He stood thinking； as it were weighing a
possibility。 While lingering thus； he noticed the reflected image
of his own face in the glasspale and spectre…like in its
indistinctness。 The sight seemed to be the feather which turned the
balance of indecision： he drew a heavy breath； retired from the
room； and passed downstairs。 She heard him unbar the back…door； and
go out into the yard。
Feeling safe in a conclusion that he did not intend to return to the
bedroom again； she arose； and hastily dressed herself。 On going to
the door of the apartment she found that he had locked it behind
him。 'A precautionit can be no more；' she muttered。 Yet she was
all the more perplexed and excited on this account。 Had he been
going to leave home immediately； he would scarcely have taken the
trouble to lock her in； holding the belief that she was in a drugged
sleep。 The lock shot into a mortice； so that there was no
possibility of her pushing back the bolt。 How should she follow
him？ Easily。 An inner closet opened from the bedroom： it was
large； and had some time heretofore been used as a dressing or bath
room； but had been found inconvenient from having no other outlet to
the landing。 The window of this little room looked out upon the
roof of the porch； which was flat and covered with lead。 Anne took
a pillow from the bed； gently opened the casement of the inner room
and stepped forth on the flat。 There； leaning over the edge of the
small parapet that ornamented the porch； she dropped the pillow upon
the gravel path； and let herself down over the parapet by her hands
till her toes swung about two feet from the ground。 From this
position she adroitly alighted upon the pillow； and stood in the
path。
Since she had come indoors from her walk in the early part of the
evening the moon had risen。 But the thick clouds overspreading the
whole landscape rendered the dim light pervasive and grey： it
appeared as an attribute of the air。 Anne crept round to the back
of the house； listening intently。 The steward had had at least ten
minutes' start of her。 She had waited here whilst one might count
fifty； when she heard a movement in the outhousea fragment once
attached to the main building。 This outhouse was partitioned into
an outer and an inner room； which had been a kitchen and a scullery
before the connecting erections were pulled down； but they were now
used respectively as a brewhouse and workshop； the only means of
access to the latter being through the brewhouse。 The outer door of
this first apartment was usually fastened by a padlock on the
exterior。 It was now closed； but not fastened。 Manston was
evidently in the outhouse。
She slightly moved the door。 The interior of the brewhouse was
wrapped in gloom； but a streak of light fell towards her in a line
across the floor from the inner or workshop door； which was not
quite closed。 This light was unexpected； none having been visible
through hole or crevice。 Glancing in； the woman found that he had
placed cloths and mats at the various apertures； and hung a sack at
the window to prevent the egress of a single ray。 She could also
perceive from where she stood that the bar of light fell across the
brewing…copper just outside the inner door； and that upon it lay the
key of her bedroom。 The illuminated interior of the workshop was
also partly visible from her position through the two half…open
doors。 Manston was engaged in emptying a large cupboard of the
tools； gallipots； and old iron it contained。 When it was quite
cleared he took a chisel； and with it began to withdraw the hooks
and shoulder…nails holding the cupboard to the wall。 All these
being loosened； he extended his arms； lifted the cupboard bodily
from the brackets under it； and deposited it on the floor beside
him。
That portion of the wall which had been screened by the cupboard was
now laid bare。 This； it appeared； had been plastered more recently
than the bulk of the outhouse。 Manston loosened the plaster with
some kind of tool； flinging the pieces into a basket as they fell。
Having now stripped clear about two feet area of wall； he inserted a
crowbar between the joints of the bricks beneath； softly wriggling
it until several were loosened。 There was now disclosed the mouth
of an old oven； which was apparently contrived in the thickness of
the wall； and having fallen into disuse； had been closed up with
bricks in this manner。 It was formed after the simple old…fashioned
plan of oven…buildinga mere oblate cavity without a flue。
Manston now stretched his arm into the oven； dragged forth a heavy
weight of great bulk； and let it slide to the ground。 The woman who
watched him could see the object plainly。 It was a common corn…
sack； nearly full； and was tied at the mouth in the usual way。
The steward had once or twi