He retired, however, to the small kitchen which belongs to every Roman lodging, and made a great clattering with the coffee-pot.

Presently he slipped into Del Ferice's bedroom, and extracted from a dark corner a shabby black bag, which he took back with him into the kitchen.

From the kitchen window ran the usual iron wire to the well in the small court, bearing an iron traveller with a rope for drawing water.

Temistocle, clattering loudly, hooked the bag to the traveller and let it run down noisily; then he tied the rope and went out.

He had carefully closed the door of the sitting-room, but he had been careful to leave the door which opened upon the stairs unlatched.