For by the light of it Marthe Gobin had seen Celia Harland run so nimbly into this house.
For a moment the men in the passage held their breath.

Some one strode heavily by on the pavement outside--to Mr.Ricardo's ear a most companionable sound.

Then a clock upon a church struck the half-hour musically, distantly.

It was half-past eight.

And a second afterwards a tiny bright light shone.