At length he passed into his bedcloset, and cooled his hot face with water and repaired his dress.

Coming out again, he found the house still quiet, the door as he had left it, the daylight pouring in through the aperture.

No one was moving, he was still safe from interruption; and a curiosity to visit the passage above and learn if aught abnormal was to be seen, took possession of him.

It was just possible that Basterga had not returned; that the key still lay where he had dropped it! He opened the door of the staircase and listened.

He heard nothing, and he stole half-way up the flight and again stood.