The shoes which I had taken off in the lower hall were yet in my hand.

I had caught them up after replacing the cushions on Adelaide's body.

Even to my own straining ears I made no perceptible sound.

I reached the balcony and had stretched myself out at full length behind the boarding, before the men below had left the lower floor.
An interval of heart-torture and wearing suspense now followed.

They were ransacking the rooms below by the aid of their own lanterns, as I could tell from their assured manner.