Again she ventured a glance out into the street below, but the skulking figure had disappeared, no one lurked anywhere in the gloom.

There was not a sound to disturb the night.

She almost held her breath as she opened the door silently and crept out into the hall.

Stella possessed no knowledge of any back stairway, but the dim light enabled her to advance in comparative quiet.
Once a board creaked slightly, even under her light tread, and she paused, listening intently.

She could distinguish the sound of heavy sleepers, but no movement to cause alarm, and, assured of this, crept forward.