He always chose a time for this when he knew that the court would most probably be deserted, to avoid the danger of being recognized through the grating.

He was, therefore, not a little startled at being disturbed in his capture of a fat black spider by a sound of something bumping against the iron bars.

On looking up, he saw that a string was dangling before the window with something attached to the end of it.

He drew it in, and, as he did so, he fancied that he heard a distant sound of voices and clapped hands, as if from some window above.

He proceeded to examine his prize, and found that it was a little round pincushion of sand, such as women use to polish their needles with, and that, apparently, it was used as a make-weight to ensure the steady descent of a neat little letter that was tied beside it, in company with a small lead pencil.