inges in spite of all his care. Now he was doubtless waiting to
make sure that this noise had not awakened me before beginning his
operations!

This was the only reasonable supposition, and I lay in absolute terror
for some minutes, fearing to stir or almost to breathe at such close
quarters, and quite incapable of rising and putting an end to my
terrible suspense. I longed to hear the next "quarter" strike, but
nothing relieved the dead silence in my room and in the streets outside.
At long last the _quarter to two_ struck, and something in the friendly
tones of the massive clock relieved the tension and gave me courage--the
courage of desperation--to strike a match and light my candle before
starting on a tour of discovery. The middle door was fastened back, as I
had found it when taking possession of the room. In any case, that was
not the door which had been opened--the sound came from the _outer_
door. I _must_ find out if anyone were hiding in the little
dressing-room; and in any case, I must lock the outer door, which I had
felt so certain I had locked on coming up to my room. I passed through
the open _inner door_ with fear and trembling. To my relief, the small
apartment was apparently empty. The wardrobe stood partly open, but
nothing more terrible than my own gown was inside it. Then I made my way
to the outer door, which gave on to the corridor, determined to make
sure of locking it firmly _this_ time. After all, it must have been a
wandering guest, who had discovered his mistake at once, and retreated
noiselessly!

I have seldom been more absolutely dumfounded than when I turned the
handle of that door, preparatory to locking it, and found _that it was
securely locked already_, just as I had supposed! How could the hinges
have creaked then, and whose cautious footsteps had I heard?

Once more my eyes fell upon the wardrobe, with its cheap varnish and
lock. I had certainly not locked _this_ overnight. Could it have creaked
itself farther open? It did not for the moment strike me that the noise
came from another quarter, and that the footsteps were still to be
explained. I was only too thankful to find the barest apology of an
explanation. So I locked the wardrobe as carefully as possible, noticing
that the lock was not one of the first quality, and once more retired to
bed, and put out my candle, greatly relieved.

Scarcely ten minutes had passed (as I afterwards ascertained) when the
whole scene was ena