This done he went back slowly to the table, called the monkey down, unhooked its chain, and induced it to remain quiet in the breast of his jacket.

Then he sat again on the table and looked fixedly at the door of the room he had just left.

He listened also intently.

He heard a dry sound of rustling; sharp cracks as of dry wood snapping; a whirr like of a bird's wings when it rises suddenly, and then he saw a thin stream of smoke come through the keyhole.

The monkey struggled under his coat.