But, meanwhile, what was I to do?
How was I to effect my escape from this perilous asylum?
After much reflection, it occurred to me that to gain the street without exciting their notice was not utterly impossible.

Sleep does not commonly end of itself, unless at a certain period.

What impediments were there between me and liberty which I could not remove, and remove with so much caution as to escape notice?
Motion and sound inevitably go together; but every sound is not attended to.

The doors of the closet and the chamber did not creak upon their hinges.

The latter might be locked.