Another thrust, directed a little lower, would, I hoped, do the business; but to make this the more certain I knelt down and secured the stool firmly against the wall.

As I rose after settling it, something else, without sound or warning, rose also, taking me completely by surprise--a man's head above the top stair, which, as it happened, faced me.

His eyes met mine, and I knew I was discovered.
He turned and bundled downstairs again with a scared face, going so quickly that I could not have caught him if I would, or had had the wit to try.

Of silence there was so longer need.

In a few seconds the alarm would be raised.