第4章

Theupperpartofthehousewas，sunkinsilence，butrisingfromthedining—roombelow，throughtheopeningmadebythestairs，camethevoicesofProtheroandPearsall。Andmixedwiththeirvoicescamealsothesharphissofwaterissuingfromasiphon。Thesoundwasreassuring。Apparently，overtheirwhiskey—and—sodathetwomenwerestilllingeringatthedinner—table。Forthemoment，then——sofar，atleast，astheywereconcerned——thecoastwasclear。

Steppingcautiously，andkeepingclosetothewall，Fordranlightlyupthestairstothehallofthethirdfloor。Itwaslitbrightlybyagas—jet，butnoonewasinsight，andthethreedoorsopeninguponitwereshut。Attherearofthehallwasawindow;

theblindwasraised，andthroughthepanes，drippingintherain，Fordcaughtaglimpseoftherigidironrodsofafire—escape。Hisspiritsleapedexultantly。Ifnecessary，bymeansofthisscalingladder，hecouldworkentirelyfromtheoutside。Greatlyelated，hetiptoedpastthecloseddoorsandmountedtothefourthfloor。Thisalsowaslitbyagas—jetthatshowedatoneendofthehallatableonwhichweremedicine—bottlesandatraycoveredbyanapkin;andattheotherend，pileduponeachotherandblockingthehall—window，werethreesteamer—trunks。Paintedoneachweretheinitials，"D。D。"Fordbreathedanexclamation。

"DosiaDale，"hemuttered，"Ihavefoundyou！"Hewasagainconfrontedbythreecloseddoors，oneleadingtoaroomthatfacedthestreet，anotheropeninguponaroomintherearofthehouse，andopposite，acrossthehallway，stillanotherdoor。Heobservedthatthefirsttwodoorswereeachfastenedfromtheoutsidebyboltsandaspringlock，andthatthekeytoeachlockwasinplace。Thefactmovedhimwithindecision。Ifhetookpossessionofthekeys，hecouldentertheroomsathispleasure。Ontheotherhand，shouldtheirlossbediscovered，analarmwouldberaisedandhewouldinevitablycomeundersuspicion。Theverypurposehehadinviewmightbefrustrated。Hedecidedthatwheretheywerethekeyswouldservehimaswellasinhispocket，andturnedhisattentiontothethirddoor。Thiswasnotlocked，and，fromitsposition，Fordguesseditmustbeanentrancetoaservants’

stairway。

Confidentofthis，heopenedit，andfoundadark，narrowlanding，aflightofstepsmountingfromthekitchenbelow，and，tohisdelightanironladderleadingtoatrap—door。Hecouldhardlyforegoacheer。Ifthetrap—doorwerenotlocked，hehadfoundathirdlineofretreat，ameansofescapebywayoftheroof，farsuperiortoanyhemightattemptbythemainstaircaseandthestreet—door。

Fordsteppedintothelanding，closingthedoorbehindhimandthoughthislefthimincompletedarkness，heclimbedtheladder，andwitheagerfingersfeltforthefasteningsofthetrap。Hehadfearedtofindapadlock，but，tohisinfiniterelief，hisfingersclosedupontwobolts。Noiselessly，andsmoothly，theydrewbackfromtheirsockets。Underthepressureofhishandthetrapdoorlifted，andthroughtheopeningsweptabreathofchillnightair。

Fordhookedonelegoveraroundoftheladderand，withhandsfreesmovedthetraptooneside。Aninstantlaterhehadscrambledtotheroof，and，aftercarefullyreplacingthetrap，roseandlookedabouthim。Tohissatisfaction，hefoundthattheroofuponwhichhestoodranlevelwiththeroofsadjoiningitstoasfarasDevonshireStreet，wheretheyencounteredthewallofanapartmenthouse。Thiswasofsevenstories。Onthefifthstoryarowofwindows，brilliantlylighted，openedupontheroofsoverwhichheplannedtomakehisretreat。Fordchuckledwithnervousexcitement。

"Beforelong，"heassuredhimself，Iwillbevisitingthemanwhoownsthatflat。HewillthinkIamaburglar。Hewillsendforthepolice。ThereisnooneintheworldIshallbesogladtosee！"

Fordconsideredthatrunningoverroofs，evenwhentheirpitfallswerenotconcealedbyayellowfog，wasanawkwardexercise，anddecidedthatbeforehemadehisdashforfreedom，thepartofacarefuljockeywouldbetotakeapreliminarycanteroverthecourse。Accordingly，amongpartywallsofbrick，rain—pipes，chimney—pipes，andtelephonewires，hefelthiswaytothewalloftheapartmenthouse;andthen，withaclearerideaoftheobstaclestobeavoided，racedbacktothepointwhencehehadstarted。

Next，todiscovertheexactpositionofthefire—escape，hedroppedtohiskneesandcrawledtotherearedgeoftheroof。Thelightfromthebackwindowsofthefourthfloorshowedhimanironladderfromtheedgeoftherooftotheplatformofthefire—escape，andtheplatformitself，stretchingbelowthewindowsthewidthofthebuilding。Hegaveasighofsatisfaction，butthesameinstantexclaimedwithdismay。Thewindowsopeninguponthefire—escapewerecloselybarred。Foramomenthewasunabletograspwhyafire—escapeshouldbeplacedwhereescapewasimpossible，untilherecognizedthattheladdermusthavebeenerectedfirstandtheironbarslater;probablyonlysinceMissDalehadbeenmadeaprisoner。

Buthenowappreciatedthatinspiteoftheironbarshewasnearerthatprisonerthanhehadeverbeen。Shouldhereturntothehallbelow，evenwhilehecouldunlockthedoors，hewasindangerofdiscoverybythoseinsidethehouse。Butfromthefire—escapeonlyawindow—panewouldseparatehimfromtheprisoner，andthoughthebarswouldkeephimatarm’s—length，hemightatleastspeakwithher，andassureherthathercallforhelphadcarried。Hegraspedthesidesoftheladderanddroppedtotheplatform。Ashehadalreadyseenthatthewindowfarthesttotheleftwasbarricadedwithtrunks，hedisregardedit，andpassedquicklytothetwoothers。Behindbothofthese，linenshadeswerelowered，but，tohisrelief，hefoundthatinthemiddlewindowthelowersash，asthoughforventilation，wasslightlyraised，leavinganopeningofafewinches。Kneelingonthegridironplatformofthefire—escape，andpressinghisfaceagainstthebars，hebroughthiseyeslevelwiththisopening。Owingtotheloweredwindow—blind，hecouldseenothingintheroom，norcouldhedistinguishanysounduntilabovethedripandpatteroftheraintherecametohimthepeacefultickingofaclockandtherattleofcoalfallingtothefender。

Butofanysoundthatwashumantherewasnone。Thattheroomwasempty，andthatthegirlwasinthefrontofthehousewaspossible，andthetemptationtostretchhishandthroughthebarsandlifttheblindwasalmostcompelling。Ifhedidso，andthegirlwereinside，shemightmakeanoutcry，or，guardingher，theremightbeanattendant，whoatoncewouldsoundthealarm。Theriskwasevident，but，encouragedbythesilence，Forddeterminedtotakethechance。Slippingonehandbetweenthebarshecaughttheendoftheblind，and，pullingitgentlydown，letthespringdrawitupward。Throughanopeningofsixinchestheroomlayopenbeforehim。Hesawadoorleadingtoanotherroom，atonesideanironcot，andinfrontofthecoalfire，facinghim，agirlseatedinadeeparm—chair。Abooklayonherknees，andshewasintentlyreading。

Thegirlwasyoung，andherface，inspiteofanunnaturalpallorandanexpressionofdeepmelancholy，wasoneofextremebeauty。

Sheworeoveranight—dressalongloosewrappercordedatthewaist，and，asthoughinreadinessforthenight，herblackhairhadbeendrawnbackintosmooth，heavybraids。ShemadesosweetandsadapicturethatFordforgothiserrand，forgothisdampandchilledbody，aridforamomentinsheerdelightknelt，withhisfacepressedclosetothebars，andgazedather。

Amovementonthepartofthegirlbroughthimtohissenses。Sheclosedthebook，and，leaningforward，restedherchinuponthehollowofherhandandstaredintothefire。Herlookwasoneofcompleteandhopelessmisery。Forddidnothesitate。Thegirlwasalone，butthatatanymomentanattendantmightjoinherwasprobable，andtherarechancethatnowofferedwouldbelost。Hedidnotdaretospeak，orbyanysoundattractherattention，butfromhisbreast—pockethetooktheglovethrowntohimfromthewindow，and，withajerk，tosseditthroughthenarrowopening。Itfelldirectlyatherfeet。Shehadnotseenthegloveapproach，buttheslightsounditmadeinfallingcausedhertostartandturnhereyestowardit。Throughthewindow，breathless，andwitheverynervedrawntaut，Fordwatchedher。

Foramoment，partlyinalarm，partlyinbewilderment，shesatmotionless，regardingtheglovewitheyesfixedandstaring。Thensheliftedthemtotheceiling，inquicksuccessiontoeachofthecloseddoors，andthentothewindow。InhisraceacrosstheroofsFordhadlackedtheprotectionofahat，andhishairwasplasteredacrosshisforehead;hisfacewasstreakedwithsootandsnow，hiseyesshonewithexcitement。Butatsightofthisstrangeapparitionthegirlmadenosign。Heralertmindhadinaninstanttakeninthesignificanceoftheglove，andforherwhatfollowedcouldhavebutonemeaning。Sheknewthatnomatterinwhatguisehecamethemanwhosefacewasnowpressedagainstthebarswasafriend。

Withaswift，gracefulmovementsherosetoherfeet，crossedquicklytothewindow，andsankuponherknees。

"Speakinawhisper，"shesaid;"andspeakquickly。Youareingreatdanger！"

ThatherfirstthoughtwasofhissafetygaveFordathrillofshameandpleasure。

UntilnowMissDosiaDalehadbeenonlythechieffeatureinanewspaperstory;theunknownquantityinaproblem。Shehadmeantnomoretohimthanhadtheinitialsonhersteamer—trunk。Now，throughherbeauty，throughthedistressinhereyes，throughherwarmandgenerousnaturethathaddiscloseditselfwithherfirstwords，shebecamealiving，breathing，lovely，andlovablewoman。

Alloftheyoungman’schivalryleapedtothecall。Hehadgonebackseveralcenturies。Infeeling，hewasaknight—errantrescuingbeautyindistressfromadungeoncell。Tothegirl，hewasarecklessyoungpersonwithadirtyfaceandeyesthatgaveconfidence。But，thoughaknight—errant，Fordwasamodernknight—errant。Hewastednotimeinexplanationsorprettyspeeches。

"Intwominutes，"hewhispered，"I’llunlockyourdoor。There’saladderoutsideyourroomtotheroof。Oncewegettotherooftherest’seasy。Shouldanythinggowrong，I’llcomebackbythisfire—escape。Waitatthewindowuntilyouseeyourdooropen。Doyouunderstand？"

Thegirlansweredwithaneagernod。Thecolorhadflowntohercheek。Hereyesflashedinexcitement。AsuddendoubtassailedFord。

"You’venotimetoputonanymoreclothes，"hecommanded。

"Ihaven’tgotany！"saidthegirl。

Theknight—errantranupthefire—escape，pulledhimselfovertheedgeoftheroof，and，crossingit，droppedthroughthetraptothelandingofthekitchenstairs。Hereheexpendedthegreaterpartofthetwominuteshehadallowedhimselfincautiouslyopeningthedoorintothehall。Heaccomplishedthiswithoutasound，andinonestepcrossedthehalltothedoorthatheldMissDaleaprisoner。

Slowlyhedrewbackthebolts。Onlythespringlocknowbarredhimfromher。Withthumbandforefingerheturnedthekey，pushedthedoorgentlyopen，andranintotheroom。

Atthesameinstantfrombehindhim，withinsixfeetofhim，heheardthestaircasecreak。Abombburstingcouldnothaveshakenhimmorerudely。Heswungonhisheelandfound，blockingthedoor，thegiantbulkofProtheroregardinghimoverthebarrelofhispistol。

"Don’tmove！"saidtheJew。

Atthesoundofhisvoicethegirlgaveacryofwarning，andsprangforward。

"Goback！"commandedProthero。Hisvoicewaslowandsoft，andapparentlycalm，buthisfaceshowedwhitewithrage。

Fordhadrecoveredfromtheshockofthesurprise。He，also，wasinarage——arageofmortificationandbitterdisappointment。

"Don’tpointthatgunatme！"heblustered。

ThesoundofleapingfootstepsandthevoiceofPearsallechoedfromthefloorbelow。

"Haveyougothim？"hecalled。

Protheromadenoreply，nordidhelowerhispistol。WhenPearsallwasathisside，withoutturninghishead，heaskedinthesamesteadytone:

"Whatshallwedowithhim？"

ThefaceofPearsallwaswhite，andfuriouswithfear。

"Itoldyou"hestormed。

"Nevermindwhatyoutoldme，"saidtheJew。"Whatshallwedowithhim？Heknows！"

Ford’smindwasworkingswiftly。Hehadnorealfearofpersonaldangerforthegirlorhimself。TheJew，heargued，wasnofool。Hewouldnotriskhisneckbyopenmurder。And，ashesawit，escapewiththegirlmightstillbepossible。HehadonlytoconcealfromProtherohisknowledgeofthelineofretreatoverthehouse—tops，explainhisrain—soakedcondition，andwaitabetterchance。

Tothisendheproceededtoliebrisklyandsmoothly。

"OfcourseIknow，"hetaunted。Hepointedtohisdrippinggarments。"DoyouknowwhereI’vebeen？Inthestreet，placingmymen。Ihavethishousesurrounded。Iamgoingtowalkdownthosestairswiththisyounglady。IfyoutrytostopmeIhaveonlytoblowmypolice—whistle"

"AndIwillblowyourbrainsout！"interruptedtheJew。Itwasamostunsatisfactoryclimax。

"Youhavenotbeeninthestreet，"saidProthero。"Youarewetbecauseyouhungoutofyourwindowsignallingtoyourfriend。Doyouknowwhyhedidnotansweryoursecondsignal？Becauseheislyinginanarea，withaknifeinhim！"

"Youlie！"criedFord。

"YOUlie，"retortedtheJewquietly，"whenyousayyourmensurroundthishouse。Youarealone。YouareNOTinthepoliceservice，youareabusybodymeddlingwithmenwhothinkaslittleofkillingyouastheydidofkillingyourfriend。Myservantwasplacedtowatchyourwindow，sawyoursignal，reportedtome。AndIfoundyourassistantandthrewhimintoanarea，withaknifeinhim！"

Fordfeltthestorywasuntrue。Protherowastryingtofrightenhim。Outofpurebravadonosanemanwouldboastofmurder。

But——andatthethoughtFordfeltatouchofrealfear——wasthemansane？Itwasamostunpleasantcontingency。Betweenafightwithanangrymanandaninsanemanthedifferencewasappreciable。Fromthisnewview—pointFordregardedhisadversarywithincreasedwariness;hewatchedhimashewouldamaddog。Heregrettedextremelyhehadnotbroughthisrevolver。

WithhisautomaticpistolstillcoveringFord，ProtherospoketoPearsall。

"Ifoundhim，"herecited，asthoughtestingthestoryhewouldtelllater，"prowlingthroughmyhouseatnight。Mistakinghimforaburglar，Ikilledhim。Thekitchenwindowwillbefoundopen，withthelockbroken，showinghowhegainedanentrance。"Whynot？"

hedemanded。

"Because，"protestedPearsall，interror，"themanoutsidewilltell"

Fordshoutedingenuinerelief。

Exactly！"hecried。"Themanoutside，whoisnotdownanareawithaknifeinhim，butwhoatthismomentisbringingthepolice—hewilltell！"

Asthoughhehadnotbeeninterrupted，Protherocontinuedthoughtfully:

"Whattheymaysayheexpectedtofindhere，Icanexplainawaylater。ThepointisthatIfoundastrangeman，hatless，dishevelled，prowlinginmyhouse。Icalledonhimtohalt;heran，Ifired，andunfortunatelykilledhim。AnEnglishman’shomeishiscastle;anEnglishjury"

"AnEnglishjury，"saidFordbriskly，"isthelastthingyouwanttomeetItisn’taChicagojury。"

TheJewflungbackhisheadasthoughFordhadstruckhimintheface。

"Ah！"hepurred，"youknowthat，too，doyou？"Thepurrincreasedtoasnarl。"Youknowtoomuch！"

ForPearsall，histoneseemedtobearanalarmingmeaning。HesprangtowardProthero，andlaidbothhandsuponhisdisengagedarm。

"ForGod’ssake，"hepleaded，"comeaway！Hecan’thurtyou——notalive;butdead，he’llhangyou——hangusboth。Wemustgo，now，thismoment。"Hedraggedimpotentlyattheleftarmofthegiant。

"Come！"hebegged。

WhethermovedbyPearsall’swordsorbysomethoughtofhisown，Protheronoddedinassent。HeaddressedhimselftoFord。

"Idon’tknowwhattodowithyou，"hesaid，"soIwillconsultwithmyfriendoutsidethisdoor。Whilewetalk，wewilllockyouin。Wecanhearanymoveyoumake。IfyouraisethewindoworcallIwillopenthedoorandkillyou——youandthatwoman！"

Withaquickgesture，heswungtothedoor，andthespringlocksnapped。Aninstantlatertheboltswerenoisilydrivenhome。

Whenthesecondboltshotintoplace，FordturnedandlookedatMissDale。

Thisisahellofanote！"hesaidIII

Outsidethelockeddoorthevoicesofthetwomenroseinfiercewhispers。ButFordregardedthemnotatall。Withtheswiftnessofasquirrelcaughtinacage，hedartedontiptoefromsidetosidesearchingtheconfinesofhisprison。HehaltedclosetoMissDaleandpointedatthewindows。

"Haveyouevertriedtoloosenthosebars？"hewhispered。

Thegirlnoddedand，inpantomimethatspokeoffailure，shruggedhershoulders。

"Whatdidyousee？"demandedFordhopefully。

Thegirldestroyedhishopewithashakeofherheadandaswiftsmile。

"Scissors，"shesaid;"buttheyfoundthemandtookthemaway。"

Fordpointedattheopengrate。

"Where’sthepoker？"hedemanded。

"Theytookthat，too。Ibentittryingtoprythebars。Sotheyknew。"

Themangaveheraquick，pleasedglance，thenturnedhiseyestothedoorthatledintotheroomthatlookeduponthestreet。