He unlocked the wicket gate of the turret stair and went out on the roof.

Close to him was the great coil of cord on its reel.

It was humming in the morning breeze, and when he touched the string it sent a quick thrill through hand and arm.

There was no sign anywhere that there had been any disturbance or displacement of anything during the night.
Utterly bewildered, he sat down in his room to think.

Now for the first time he _felt_ that he was asleep and dreaming.