I wondered whence it could come, for the air had been still and thick before.

Yet I was glad of the stir, for it cooled my temples, and I think that but for one thing I might have slept.

And had I fallen on sleep then no one of us might have waked so easily.

What I heard was no more than this--once or twice the flame of the candle gave a smart little "spit," as if a moth or a fat blue-bottle had forwandered into it and fallen spinning to the ground with burned wings.

Yet there were no moths in the chambers, or we should have seen them circling about the lights at the time of supper.
Nevertheless, ere long I heard again the quick, light "_plap_!" And presently I saw a pellet fall to the ground, rolling away from the wall almost to the edge of the straw on which I lay.
I reached out a hand for it, and in a trice had it in my fingers.