we saw no glimmer of a light
through the partly-opened door. We were behind it, so that if it opened
we should be quite hidden unless the fellow groped round it.

"Down he came slowly, and there was no mistake now about its being a
human being and not a ghost, for we heard him clearing his throat very
quietly and snuffling as he reached the bottom step. I can tell you it
was rather exciting, even for a fellow of my dull nerves.

"Waterford nudged me to creep a little nearer the gas, ready to turn it
up at a moment's notice, while he kept at the door, to prevent our man
getting out after he was once in.

"Presently the door opened very quietly. He did not fling it wide open,
luckily, or he was bound to spot us behind it; but he opened it just
enough to squeeze in, and then, feeling his way round by the wall, made
straight for the letter-box. Although it was dark he seemed to know his
way pretty well, and in a few seconds we heard him stop and fumble with
a key in the lock. In a second or two he had opened it, and then,
crouching down, began cautiously to rub a match on the floor. The light
was too dim to see anything but the crouching figure of a man bending
over the box and examining the addresses of one or two of the letters in
it. His match went out before he had found what he wanted.

"It was hard work to keep from giving him a little unexpected light, for
my fingers itched to turn up the gas. However, it was evidently better
to wait a little longer and see what he really was up to before we were
down on him.

"He lit another match, and this time seemed to find what he wanted, for
we saw him put one letter in his pocket and drop all the others back
into the box, blowing out his match as he did so.

"Now was our time. I felt a nudge from Waterford and turned the gas
full on, while he quietly closed the door and turned the key.

"I felt quite sorry for the poor scared beggar as he knelt there and
turned his white face to the light, unable to move or speak or do
anything. You'll have guessed who it was.

"`So, Mr Durfy,' said Waterford, leaning up against the door and
folding his arms, `it's you, is it?'

"The culprit glared at him and then at me, and rose to his feet with a
forced laugh.

"`It looks like it,' he said.

"`So it does,' said Waterford, taking the key out of the door and
putting it in his pocket; `very like it. And it looks very much as if
he would have to make himself comfortable