I fostered the persuasion that you would now retire to bed; but presently you approached the closet, and detection seemed to be inevitable.

You put your hand upon the lock.

I had formed no plan to extricate myself from the dilemma in which the opening of the door would involve me.

I felt an irreconcilable aversion to detection.

Thus situated, I involuntarily seized the door with a resolution to resist your efforts to open it.
"Suddenly you receded from the door.