The night-lamp burned dim at the other end of the long, chilly passage, but threw no light where she stood.
The green baize door stood temptingly half open; no creature was to be seen--no sound to be heard.

Rose's heart throbbed fast; the mysterious stillness of the night, the ghostly shimmer of the moonlight, the mystery and romance of her adventure, set every pulse tingling, but she did not hesitate.

Her slippered feet crossed the hall lightly; she was beside the green door.

Then there was another pause--a moment's breathless listening, but the dead stillness of midnight was unbroken.
She tip-toed down the short corridor, and looked into the room.

The study was quite deserted; a lamp burned on a table strewn with books, papers, and writing materials.