He stood looking out into the darkness for perhaps five minutes, then I saw him start, turn his head, and go out of the room.

I heard the front door open, followed by the sound of footsteps ascending the stairs.

A moment later I heard the murmur of voices in Robert Turold's room upstairs.
"I went nearer to try and find out what had happened, but it was no use.

I could see a gleam of light in the study window, and could hear Robert Turold's voice mingled with feminine tones, then--silence, followed once more by the sound of an opening door.

From my place of concealment I saw two people going down the garden path--Thalassa and a female figure.