xt Eaton made out the hum of a motor-car approaching the
house. It was Avery, who evidently had been out and was now returning;
the chauffeur spoke the name in his reply to some question as the car
swung away to the garage. Eaton still sat in the dark. By degrees all
noises ceased in the house, even in the servants' quarters. Twice
Eaton leaned forward looking out of the window and found all quiet; but
both times he settled back in his chair and waited.

The wash of waves, as from a passing boat, sounded again on the shore.
Eaton leaned nearer the window and stared out. There was no light in
sight showing any boat; but the waves on the shore were distinct;
indeed, they had been more distinct than those from the steamer. They
must have been made by a large vessel or from a small ship close in and
moving fast. The waves came in first on the north and swept south;
Eaton strained his eyes and now saw a vague blur off to the south and
within half a mile of shore--a boat without lights. If it had passed
at high speed, it had stopped now. He watched this for some time; but
he could make out no more, and soon he could not be sure even that the
blur was there.

He gazed at the south wing of the house; it was absolutely dark and
quiet; the windows of the first floor were closed and the curtains
drawn; but to-night there was no light in the room. The windows of the
room on the second floor were open; Basil Santoine was undoubtedly
asleep. Eaton gazed again at the lower room. Then in the dark he
moved to the table where he had left his overcoat, and distributed in
his pockets and within his clothing the articles he had brought; and
now he felt again in the overcoat and brought out a short, strong bar
of steel curved and flattened at one end--a "jimmy" for forcing the
windows.

Eaton slipped off his shoes and went to his room door; he opened the
door and found the hall dark and quiet. He stepped out, closing his
door carefully behind him, and with great caution he descended the
stairs. Below, all was quiet; the red embers and glowing charcoal of
wood fires which had blazed on the hearths gave the only light. Eaton
crept to the doors of the blind man's study and softly tried them.
They were, as he had expected, locked. He went to a window in the
drawing-room which was set in a recess and so placed that it was not
visible from other windows in the house. He opened this window and let
himself down upon the lawn.