I took out the bottle of vitriol, removed the cork and placed it on a stool near by.
"I don't know how long I waited in the dark, but about eleven o'clock, as far as I can judge, I heard the outer door click very gently and a soft foot in the hall.

I knew it wasn't Milburgh because he was a heavy man.
This person moved like a cat.

In fact, I did not hear the door of the bedroom open.

I waited with the vitriol on the stool by my side, for the light to be switched on, but nothing happened.

I don't know what made me do it but I walked towards the person who had come into the room.
"Then, before I knew what had happened, somebody had gripped me.