It was quite plain, and evidently near at first; but
The Lifter was soon satisfied that the listener had gone to bed. He
had no doubt that it was Bridget, whose honest heart perhaps misgave
her after leaving the house at a stranger's mercy. But she was
evidently off her guard now, and had retired in good earnest.
Upon the kitchen table stood a candle, and this, after the lapse of
another half-hour, the convert took into his hand. Moving noiselessly
as a cat he entered the great drawing-room, but did not yet venture
to light his candle. Once into the library he breathed more freely,
for light could not be seen or sound heard from this retired and
distant part of the mansion. The glare from the dip was small in
circumference, and yellow as tarnished brass, but it revealed plainly
enough the locks of the door to the secret room. Unwinding the
bandage about his leg he laid his tools upon the carpet and then
began operations.
At first he introduced a long key hooked a little at the point, and
with this he began to probe, and feel, and measure. A gleam came into
his eyes as he drew it forth. Then he selected two keys and looking
first at one and then at the other, decided, in a second or two in
favour of the larger.
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