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In due course he locked the doors and saw that the shutters were fastened She attended to a few closing details of housewifery, and a few ht
5 FROM ELEVEN O'CLOCK TO MIDNIGHT When Manston was persuaded, by the feigned heaviness of her breathing, that Anne Seaas asleep, he softly arose, and dressed hiloom With ears strained to their utmost she heard hi fro-table, went to the door, and down the stairs She glided out of bed and looked in the drawer
He had only restored to its place a small phial she had seen there before It was labelled 'Battley's Solution of Opium' She felt relieved that her life had not been atteht No time was to be lost if she htdress When she reached the foot of the staircase he was in the office and had closed the door, under which a faint gleaht She crept to the door, but could not venture to open it, however slightly Placing her ear to the panel, she could hear hi ray of light co fro theht noise of his footsteps on the uncarpeted floor, she at length i the door She flitted upstairs again and crept into bed
Manston returned to the bedrooht Standing motionless for an instant to assure himself that she still slept, he went to the drawer in which their ready-money was kept, and reht the rustle of notes, and the chink of the gold as he handled it Some he placed in his pocket, so, as it eighing a possibility While lingering thus, he noticed the reflected ilass--pale and spectre-like in its indistinctness The sight seemed to be the feather which turned the balance of indecision: he drew a heavy breath, retired from the room, and passed downstairs She heard hi safe in a conclusion that he did not intend to return to the bedroo to the door of the apartment she found that he had locked it behind him 'A precaution--it can be no more,' she muttered Yet she was all theto leave home immediately, he would scarcely have taken the trouble to lock her in, holding the belief that she was in a drugged sleep The lock shot into aback the bolt How should she follow him? Easily An inner closet opened froe, and had so or bath roo no other outlet to the landing Theof this little room looked out upon the roof of the porch, which was flat and covered with lead Anne took a pillow froently opened the casement of the inner rooe of the small parapet that ornaravel path, and let herself down over the parapet by her hands till her toes swung about two feet frohted upon the pillow, and stood in the path