Try as he would he could not construct a peaceful or secure arrangement of them.

In whatever way he grouped them there was danger.
The kitchen passage ran out at right angles to the room in which he sat, and formed one side of the garden.

The windows in it were high up, so that it did not overlook the flowerbeds, and on this torrid afternoon they were all fully open.

Suddenly from just inside came the fierce clanging peal of a bell, which made him start from his recumbent position.

It was the front-door bell, as he knew, and as it continued ringing as if a maniac's grip was on the handle, he heard the steps of his servant running along the stone floor of the passage to see what imperative summons this was.