The Tragedy of Pondicherry Lodge It was nearly eleven o'clock when we reached this final stage of our night's adventures.

We had left the damp fog of the great city behind us, and the night was fairly fine.

A warm wind blew from the westward, and heavy clouds moved slowly across the sky, with half a moon peeping occasionally through the rifts.

It was clear enough to see for some distance, but Thaddeus Sholto took down one of the side-lamps from the carriage to give us a better light upon our way.
Pondicherry Lodge stood in its own grounds, and was girt round with a very high stone wall topped with broken glass.

A single narrow iron-clamped door formed the only means of entrance.