So vivid did this fear become that at length I arose, lit a candle and dressed myself.

As it happened I knew where Miss Holmes slept.

Her room, which I had seen her enter, was on the same corridor as mine though at the other end of it near the head of a stair that ran I knew not whither.

In my portmanteau that had been sent over from Miss Manners's house, amongst other things was a small double-barrelled pistol which from long habit I always carried with me loaded, except for the caps that were in a little leather case with some spare ammunition attached to the pistol belt.

I took it out, capped it and thrust it into my pocket.