I left the ladder in its place against the wall, and set myself to examine the contents of the cupboards first.
The cupboards were three in number.

As I opened the first of them the singing upstairs ceased.

For a moment there was something almost oppressive in the sudden change from noise to silence.

I suppose my nerves must have been overwrought.

The next sound in the house--nothing more remarkable than the creaking of a man's boots descending the stairs--made me shudder all over.