For a moment he listened, then went forward and passed through into the hall.

Softly turning the handle of the big wooden doors which faced him, he opened them an inch or so, and listened.

He could hear swiftly retreating footsteps.

Presently he heard the faint noise of a gate shutting.

He nodded his head, and was about to close the doors and turn away, when his quick ear detected footsteps again in the garden.