\"Iwilltellyouaboutlastnight。Youareaware，perhaps，thatinthishouseallservantssleepinthemodernwing。
Thiscentralblockismadeupofthedwelling—rooms，withthekitchenbehindandourbedroomabove。MymaidTheresasleepsabovemyroom。Thereisnooneelse，andnosoundcouldalarmthosewhoareinthefartherwing。Thismusthavebeenwellknowntotherobbers，ortheywouldnothaveactedastheydid。
\"SirEustaceretiredabouthalf—pastten。Theservantshadalreadygonetotheirquarters。Onlymymaidwasup，andshehadremainedinherroomatthetopofthehouseuntilIneededherservices。Isatuntilaftereleveninthisroom，absorbedinabook。ThenIwalkedroundtoseethatallwasrightbeforeIwentupstairs。Itwasmycustomtodothismyself，for，asIhaveexplained，SirEustacewasnotalwaystobetrusted。
Iwentintothekitchen，thebutler’spantry，thegun—room，thebilliard—room，thedrawing—room，andfinallythedining—room。
AsIapproachedthewindow，whichiscoveredwiththickcurtains，Isuddenlyfeltthewindblowuponmyfaceandrealizedthatitwasopen。Iflungthecurtainasideandfoundmyselffacetofacewithabroad—shouldered，elderlymanwhohadjuststeppedintotheroom。ThewindowisalongFrenchone，whichreallyformsadoorleadingtothelawn。Iheldmybedroomcandlelitinmyhand，and，byitslight，behindthefirstmanIsawtwoothers，whowereintheactofentering。Isteppedback，butthefellowwasonmeinaninstant。Hecaughtmefirstbythewristandthenbythethroat。Iopenedmymouthtoscream，buthestruckmeasavageblowwithhisfistovertheeye，andfelledmetotheground。Imusthavebeenunconsciousforafewminutes，forwhenIcametomyselfIfoundthattheyhadtorndownthebell—ropeandhadsecuredmetightlytotheoakenchairwhichstandsattheheadofthedining—roomtable。