\"Presentlyhecameupagain，stillmuttering。Heopenedthedooroftheroom，andbeforeIcouldenter，slammeditinmyface。
\"Iresolvedtoexplorethehouse，andspentsometimeindoingsoasnoiselesslyaspossible。Thehousewasveryoldandtumbledown，dampsothatthepaperintheatticswaspeelingfromthewalls，andrat—infested。
SomeofthedoorhandleswerestiffandIwasafraidtoturnthem。SeveralroomsIdidinspectwereunfurnished，andotherswerelitteredwiththeatricallumber，boughtsecond—hand，Ijudged，fromitsappearance。InoneroomnexttohisIfoundalotofoldclothes。Ibeganroutingamongthese，andinmyeagernessforgotagaintheevidentsharpnessofhisears。Iheardastealthyfootstepand，lookingupjustintime，sawhimpeeringinatthetumbledheapandholdinganold—fashionedrevolverinhishand。Istoodperfectlystillwhilehestaredaboutopen—mouthedandsuspicious。’Itmusthavebeenher，’hesaidslowly。’Damnher！’
\"Heshutthedoorquietly，andimmediatelyIheardthekeyturninthelock。Thenhisfootstepsretreated。IrealisedabruptlythatIwaslockedin。Foraminuteadidnotknowwhattodo。Iwalkedfromdoortowindowandback，andstoodperplexed。Agustofangercameuponme。ButIdecidedtoinspecttheclothesbeforeIdidanythingfurther，andmyfirstattemptbroughtdownapilefromanuppershelf。Thisbroughthimback，moresinisterthanever。Thattimeheactuallytouchedme，jumpedbackwithamazementandstoodastonishedinthemiddleoftheroom。
\"Presentlyhecalmedalittle。’Rats，’hesaidinanundertone，fingersonlip。Hewasevidentlyalittlescared。Iedgedquietlyoutoftheroom，butaplankcreaked。Thentheinfernallittlebrutestartedgoingalloverthehouse，revolverinhandandlockingdoorafterdoorandpocketingthekeys。WhenIrealisedwhathewasuptoIhadafitofrage——Icouldhardlycontrolmyselfsufficientlytowatchmyopportunity。BythistimeIknewhewasaloneinthehouse，andsoImadenomoreado，butknockedhimonthehead。\"