What would Ida do, if she came out and found no one to meet her?
His absence would make no one anxious, at all events not till more than a day had gone by.

Hitherto he had always taken his rents at once to Mr.Woodstock's office, but the old gentleman was not likely to be disturbed by his non appearance; it would be accounted for in some simple way, and his coming expected on the following morning.

Then it was as good as certain that no one would come to Slimy's room.

And, by the by, had not there been a sound of the turning of a key when Slimy took his departure?
He could not be quite sure of this; just then he had noticed all things so imperfectly.

Was it impossible to free a limb, or to ungag his mouth?
He tried to turn his head, but it was clear that throttling would be the only result of any such effort; and the bonds on hands and feet were immoveable.