He took it at once.

In the next breath he stepped out of the room and tip-toed into the passage.

He retreated to the far end, near the street door, and stood behind the coats that hung on the hall-stand.
At that moment his wife came into the passage, holding a candle.

She was red-eyed with weeping, and looked frail.
"Did YOU leave the parlour door open ?" she asked of Millicent, suspiciously.
"No," said Millicent from the kitchen.
The doctor, with his soft, Oriental tread followed Mrs.Sisson into the parlour.

Aaron saw his wife hold up the candle before his portrait and begin to weep.