Instantly she was upon her feet, and had crossed the room, her head thrust out.

The light in the office had been extinguished, and the night was black, yet she could make out dimly the figure of a man close in against the side of the house, a mere hulking shadow.

At the same instant he seemed to move slightly, and some missile grazed her face, and fell upon the floor, striking the rug with a dull thud.

She drew back in alarm, yet immediately grasped the thought that this must be some secret message, some communication from Westcott.
Drawing down the torn curtain, she touched a match to the lamp and sought the intruding missile.

It had rolled beneath the bed--a small stone with a bit of paper securely attached.